DOVER, DE- Delaware State University hosted its first-ever Agriculture Student Pitch Competition on Monday, giving aspiring student agriculture innovators a platform to present groundbreaking ideas aimed at shaping the future of farming.
Eleven teams composed of middle school, high school, and college students—mostly from Delaware, but some from other states—gathered at DSU to pitch their agricultural solutions to a panel of industry professionals
Among the many notable attendees were current and former lawmakers, U.S. senators, and Daymond John — original “Shark Tank” investor and entrepreneur.
The event, held in partnership with Capital One, highlighted the critical role young inventors could play in addressing the evolving challenges of agriculture—Delaware’s leading industry.
One of the competitors, DSU sophomore Awasung Moma, and his team created an AI app that identifies plant compounds to naturally repel pests, helping reduce pesticide use and cut costs for farmers.
Moma says getting to present the idea he and his team have been working on for months was a rewarding opportunity.
"It's an amazing experience because it allows us to take our diverse ideas and put them into a real space where it can be valued and actually taken to the next level."
Moma also emphasized the importance of embracing rapidly evolving technology to improve lives and enhance agricultural practices.
"The technology is growing in our faces. So the only thing that we can do is just join the wave and try to actually use that technology to help our, our lives be, you know, just a little better."
Another competitor, DSU senior Jerry Benn, also presented an AI-based solution—an app that allows farmers to instantly diagnose plant issues while in the field.
"Now with the use of AI and it being trained on different data sets, you can actually get that solution right there soon as you need it right in your hands."
DSU leaders view this inaugural competition as a foundational step toward long-term innovation in agriculture.
Dr. Cherese Winstead, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology at DSU, stressed the importance of early exposure to agricultural problem-solving.
"The earlier that you are exposed to, the more prepared you are for it and the more the sooner that we can actually have these impacts with those types of global challenges such as energy, food and water."
According to Delaware State University, winners from Monday’s competition will receive support to continue developing their inventions, with the goal of turning their ideas into market-ready products.