Highlights of the 2026 CCF Digital Agriculture Annual Conference (4th CCF Digital Agriculture Conference)

This Research Topic showcases recent advances in plant science and crop production emerging from the 2026 CCF Digital Agriculture Annual Conference (4th CCF Digital Agriculture Conference), held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China, on August 11–13, 2026, and organized by the China Computer Federation (CCF), the CCF Digital Agriculture Branch, and Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. The conference brings together researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to explore the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in modern agriculture.With artificial intelligence as a key driver, digital agriculture is transforming research and production through intelligent sensing, data analytics, machine learning, computer vision, remote sensing, robotics, and decision-support systems, opening new opportunities in crop monitoring, phenotyping, breeding, resource management, phytoprotection, and sustainable production.This Research Topic focuses specifically on the plant science dimensions of digital agriculture, highlighting interdisciplinary research at the interface of computer science, AI, and plant biology, aligned with conference themes such as crop intelligent monitoring and pest and disease control, smart ecological restoration, optically driven digital agriculture, and sustainable and intelligent phytoprotection.In keeping with the scope of Frontiers in Plant Science, this Research Topic welcomes high-quality research on crops, plants, plant-environment interactions, and plant production systems. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:• Big data, knowledge graphs, and intelligent analysis for plant science• Computer vision, remote sensing, and IoT for crop and plant monitoring• Intelligent breeding, crop phenotyping, and germplasm resource discovery• AI-assisted crop breeding and genomic or phenotypic data analysis• Intelligent irrigation, fertilization, phytoprotection, and precision crop management• Intelligent monitoring, diagnosis, and control of crop pests and diseases• Agricultural robotics and intelligent equipment for crop production• Digital twins, modeling, and simulation for crop growth management• Large language, foundation, and multimodal AI models in plant and crop science• Crop product quality, safety, authentication, and traceability• Crop disaster monitoring, risk assessment, and intelligent response• AI-driven approaches for low-carbon, sustainable crop production• Smart ecological restoration and digital technologies for plant and ecosystem management• Optical sensing, spectral technologies, and image-based analysis in plant science• Other interdisciplinary innovations integrating AI and plant scienceWe welcome high-quality Original Research, Review, and Dataset articles presenting novel findings, methodological advances, or valuable datasets that advance the application of digital technologies to plant science and crop production, particularly those integrating AI with biological, physiological, ecological, or agronomic knowledge. This Research Topic aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across plant science, agricultural science, computer science, AI, and engineering, providing a platform to share innovative approaches toward more productive, resilient, and sustainable plant production systems. We particularly welcome contributions from researchers and participants of the 2026 CCF Digital Agriculture Annual Conference, and from the broader international research community.---------------------We welcome contributions from researchers across the field and are happy to support you as you prepare your submission. If you would like initial feedback on whether your planned manuscript aligns with the scope of this Research Topic, please reach out to us at plantscience@frontiersin.org before submitting. Early input can help ensure your work is a strong fit and save you time later in the process. If you would like to join us, simply click “Participate in this topic” at the top right of this page. This lets us know you plan to contribute, ensures you never miss key deadlines, and gives you access to helpful resources to guide you through the submission process. We very much look forward to your participation and to building a vibrant and cohesive Research Topic together. Topic editors: Zhengnan Li, Alvaro Fuentes Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85094/highlights-of-the-2026-ccf-digital-agriculture-annual-conference-4th-ccf-digital-agriculture-conference