Igathinathane Cannayen

Associate Professor

Faculty

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Dr. Igathi Cannayen

The 27-9-3 Professional Summary: (1). I am an NDSU Associate Professor of agricultural engineering. (2). I specialize in biomass processing, machine vision, and circular bioeconomy. (3). My work helps agricultural processing, products, and biomass users.

Dr. Igathinathane Cannayen is an Associate Professor. His research focuses on engineering-related issues of biomass feedstock preprocess engineering, including logistics, precision agriculture using machine vision, artificial intelligence applications in agriculture, software tool development, circular bioeconomy, and innovation in research. Major advisor (graduated + current): Ph.D. (4 + 3), MS (4 + 0), PostDocs. (3 + 1), Visiting (7), Committee member Ph.D. (14 + 7); MS: (6).

Dr. Cannayen published peer-reviewed journal articles (125), presented conference outputs (240), popular articles (4), datasets (5), field day presentations (63), book chapters (5), edited book (1), and textbook (1). Google Scholar h-index (40) and citations (5455).

Areas of Study & Research

Circular bioeconomy; precision agriculture; machine vision and image processing; machine and deep learning; open-source software tools development; biomass and feedstock process engineering; biomass storage; biomass logistics; biomass physical, mechanical, and thermal quality analysis; postharvest and agricultural process and food engineering; mathematical modeling and numerical simulation; computer applications in agricultural engineering (AgEng); and innovation in research.

Other Research Interests

Open-source software technologies and tool development for AgEng. NDSU LaTeX Thesis Class development. Application of LaTeX in AgEng publications. Technical writing (articles + thesis) assistance to students. Webtool development for AgEng applications.

Courses Taught

  1. ABEN-758 Applied Computer Imaging and Sensing for Biosystems (2 + 1)
  2. ABEN-790 Graduate Seminar (2 + 0)
  3. ABEN-799 Doctoral + Masters Dissertation

Previous Work

  • Senior Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering with Agricultural Processing Focus, ANGRAU, India.
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate - University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Mississippi State University, Mississippi State; and University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Current Grants

  • Cattle Grazing Level and Plant Species Composition and Preference Evaluation Using Artificial Intelligence and Development of Cattle Mounted Vision System.
  • Developing Remote Sensing and Image Processing Tools for North Dakota Agricultural and Rangeland Applications.

Awards & Honors

  • World’s Top 2% Most-Cited Scientists — 2024 Single Year List — The Science-wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators (Stanford University and Elsevier).
  • Outstanding Poster Award — S-1075 Poster Abstracts and Presentation — 2025.
  • NDSU Innovation in Teaching Award, Office of Teaching and Learning (2026, 2024, 2023).
  • ASABE Standards Development Award — Machine Vision Method of Forage or Biomass Particle Size and Size Distribution — 2024.
  • ASABE — Student Awards, Competitions & Scholarships; Ethics Essay Competition - 2023.
  • ASABE — Superior Paper Award — Awarded at the ASABE Annual Meeting 2018.
  • 2008 Research Support Award — CoA and Life Sci. and MAFES, MSU — 2008.
  • Several Outstanding Reviewer Awards (ASABE, Elsevier) and Travel Awards.

Professional Associations

  • Life member of ASABE and the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE)
  • Member of Gamma Sigma Delta (NDSU and Mississippi State University)
  • Member of Editorial Board: Helion, Journal of Renewable Energy, and Scientifica
  • ASABE Technical Committees in the capacity of member, vice chair, chair, and past chair: PRS, P-513, ES-220, PRS-03, PRS-02, PRS-701, MS-23/7/2, ITSC-312

Links

University Affiliations

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Education

  • Ph.D. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur; Agricultural Process and Food Engineering
  • M.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology; Post Harvest Engineering
  • BE(Ag). Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Agricultural Engineering

Publications

Total: 125
Current and past year peer-reviewed journal articles (2 years)

(* - Corresponding Author and Principal Investigator; # - Co-investigator; § - Significant Collaborator; - Primary Researcher)

2026

  • Kassama, S.*, Hunter, G., Friedrichsen, C. N., Gleason, S., Whippo, C. W., Gyeabour, G. K., Church, L. M., Fischel, M. H. H., Pisarello, K., Igathinathane, C.§, Beebe, C., Mathews, F., White, M., Church, M., Church, W., Mark, D., Mark, J. 2026. Weaving together ecological data with Indigenous Knowledge to model environmental factors impacting Rubus chamaemorus productivity in southwest Alaska. Remote Sensing 18(12) (2026) 1939: 33 pages. URL.
  • Salem, M. A., Igathinathane, C.§, Pease, A.B., Guatam, C.K., Geddes, B.A., Rahia, A.H.* 2026. Automated computer vision-based quantification of fluorescent root nodules in legume-rhizobia systems. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research 27 (2026) 102899: 13 pages. URL.
  • Liadi, M.A., Ayodele, T.O., Tijani, A., Bello, I.A., Sarker, N.C., Igathinathane, C.*, Ademola, H.M.* 2026. From biomass to biofabrication: Advances in substrate treatment technologies for fungal mycelium composites. Clean Technologies, 2026 8(30): 33 pages. URL.
  • Xin, J., Zhang, Z.*., Dai, Y., Mhamed, M., Abid, F., Igathinathane, C.§, Thuy, N.T.D., Amratzidis, Y., Azizi, A. 2026. Advancements in Orchard Thinning Technologies: A Comprehensive Review. Smart Agricultural Technology, 13 (2026) 101852: 25 pages. URL.
  • Das, S., Igathinathane, C.#, Sun, X.* 2026. An-Augmenter: A unified platform for efficient image annotation and data augmentation. SoftwareX, 33 (2026) 102516: 11 pages. URL.
  • Rui, Z., Zhang, Z.*, Hao, C., Jia, Y., Ye, Z., Hussain, S., Abdelhamid, M. A., Igathinathane, C.§, Ampatzidis, Y. 2026. Advancement and field evaluation of a honeysuckle harvesting robot with integrated clamping and air-suction mechanisms. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 243 (2026) 111400: 20 pages. URL.

2025

  • Cao, W., Zhang, Z., Wang, Z., Wei, A., Chen, Q., Igathinathane, C.§, Zhang, F., Abdelhamid, M.A., Ye, D., Ampatzidis, Y. 2025. GLS-YOLOv8n: a lightweight ‘Guiqi’ mango detection model via RGB-depth-thermal image fusion. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 242 (2026) 111355: 17 pages. URL.
  • Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Nishad, J., Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Sunoj, S., Mohan, A., Kumar, P., Adiga, J.D. Assessment of physicochemical properties of cashew apple through computer vision. AgriEngineering, 2025 7(12), 398: 38 pages. URL.
  • Whippo, C.W., Coale, E., Igathinathane, C.#, Heintzman, L., Friedrichsen, C., Archer, D.W. 2025. Crop sequence complexity of the major land resource areas (MLRA) in the contiguous United States (CONUS). Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 396 (2026) 110003: 11 pages. URL.
  • Igathinathane, C.#, Clementson, C.* 2025. Assessing the intrapore volume and surface area of single corn kernel using CT scan imaging and machine vision. Smart Agricultural Technology, 12 (2025) 101231: 21 pages. URL.
  • Rui, Z., Zhang, Z.*, Hao, C., He, J., Igathinathane, C.§, Azizi, A., Song, L., Guo, H., Wu, X., Zhang, M., Abid, F., Javidan, S.M. 2025. Development and field evaluation of a straddle-frame honeysuckle harvesting robot. Biosystems Engineering, 257 (2025) 104234: 15 pages. URL.
  • Manzoor, S.H., Li, H., Zhang, Z.*, Li, H., Zhang, Q., Chen, K., Igathinathane, C.§, Li, T., Li, W., Tahir, M.N.,Mustafa, N., Mhamed, M. 2025. Optimized Yolov5s-Im for real-time apple flower detection in drone-based pollination. Smart Agricultural Technology, 12 (2025) 101150: 15 pages.URL.
  • Igathinathane, C.*, Visvanathan, R., Bora, G., Rahman, S. 2025. Computer vision-based multiple-width measurements for agricultural produce. AgriEngineering, 2025 7(7) 204: 21 pages. URL.
  • Bazrafkan, A.*, Igathinathane, C.§, Bandillo, N. Flores, P., 2025. Optimizing integration techniques for UAS and satellite mage data in precision agriculture — A review. Frontiers in Remote Sensing, 2025 6:1622884: 21 pages. URL.
  • Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Igathinathane, C.*, Ademola, A., Zhang, Z., Whippo, C., Scott, D., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D., Pordesimo, L., Sokhansanj, S. 2025. Jasmine flower color degradation user-coded computer vision image analysis tool and kinetics modeling. AgriEngineering, 20257(6)193: 28pages. URL.
  • Q. Zhang, Q., Zhang, Z.*, Manzoor, S.H., Li, T., Igathinathane, C.§, Li, W., Zhang, M., Mhamed, M., Javidan, S.M., Abdelhamid, M. 2025. A comprehensive review of autonomous flower pollination techniques: Progress, challenges, and future directions. ‘Agricultural Cybernetics’ Special Issue. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 237 (2025) 110577: 28 pages. URL.
  • Sunoj, S., Igathinathane, C.*, Flores, J.P., Sidhu, H., Monono, E., Archer, D., Hendrickson, J. 2025. Crop row identification and plant cluster segmentation for stand count from UAS imagery based on profile and geometry. Smart Agricultural Technology, 11 (2025) 100938: 14 pages. URL.
  • Baidhe, E., Chowdhury, S.T., Igathinathane, C.§, Hammed, A., Hellevang, K., Clementson, C.L.*. 2025. Characterization of breakage behavior of corn kernel during handling operations. Journal of the ASABE, 68(2): 195–206. URL.
  • Liu, X., Zhang, Z.*, Li, Y., Igathinathane, C.§, Yu, J., Rui, Z., Azizi, A., Wang, X., Pourreza, A., Zhang, M. 2025. Early-stage detection of maize seed germination based on RGB image and machine vision. Smart Agricultural Technology, 11 (2025) 100927: 11 pages. URL.
  • Betitame, K., Igathinathane, C.§, Howatt, K., Mettler, J., Koparan, C., Sun, X*. 2024. Comparing the efficiency of RGB and multispectral sensors for weed species mapping in soybean field using UAV. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 20 (2025) 101784: 16 pages. URL.
  • Subhasharee, S. N., Igathinathane, C.*, Hendrickson, J., Archer, D., Liebig, M., Halvorson, J., Kronberg, S., Toledo, D., Sedivec, K. 2025. Evaluating remote sensing resolutions and machine learning methods for biomass yield prediction in northern great plains pastures. Agriculture MDPI. Agriculture, 2025, 15(5) 505: 24 pages. URL.
  • Sunoj, S., Igathinathane, C.*, Saliendra, N., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D., Liebig. 2025. PhenoCam guidelines for phenology measurement and analysis in agricultural cropping environment: A case study of soybean. Remote Sensing, 17(4), 724: 28 pages. URL.
  • Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Tazeen, H., Igathinathane, C.*, Zhang, Z., Wippo, C., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D., 2025. Applications of Raspberry Pi for precision agriculture—A systematic review. Agriculture, 2025, 15(3) 227: 31 pages. URL.
  • Long, J., Zhang, Z., Zhang, Q., Zhao, X., Igathinathane, C.§., Xing, J., Saha, C. K., Sheng, W., Li, H., Zhang, M. Comprehensive wheat lodging detection under different UAV heights using machine/deep learning models. 2025. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 231 (2025) 109972: 16 pages. URL.
  • Ademola, A., Cihacek, L., Rahman, S., Sunoj, S., Igathinathane, C.§., 2025. Mineral nitrogen availability from codigested biodigester products as affected by feedstock pretreatment. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 89, e70005. URL.
  • Hua, W., Zhang, W., Zhao, Z.*, Liu, X., Huang, M., Igathinathane, C.§, Vougioukas, S., Saha, C.K., Mustafa, N.S., Salama, D.S., Zhang, Y., Zhang, M. 2025. Vacuum suction end-effector development for robotic harvesters of fresh market apples. Biosystems Engineering, 249 (2025): 28–40. URL.

Presentations

Total: 246
Current and the past year presentations/posters (2 years)

2026

  • Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*. 2026. Life-cycle and techno-economic analysis of poultry manure pathways under a circular bioeconomy framework. ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, University of Minnesota, April 9--10, 2026, St. Paul, MN. First Place Oral Presentation Awarded + \$75 (Oral presentation).
  • Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Tazeen, H., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J. 2026. Lightweight deep learning model development using phenocam images for corn growth stage classification. ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, University of Minnesota, April 9--10, 2026, St. Paul, MN (Oral presentation).
  • Joice, A., Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Whippo, C., Hendrickson. 2026. Integrating spectral and textural features for machine learning-driven corn biomass estimation on Raspberry Pi. ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, University of Minnesota, April 9--10, 2026, St. Paul, MN (Poster presentation)
  • Tufaique, T., Joice, A., Tazeen, H., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*. 2026. Integrating machine vision and nematology for precision soil health evaluation. ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, University of Minnesota, April 9--10, 2026, St. Paul, MN (Poster presentation).
  • Tufaique, T., Joice, A., Tazeen, H. 2026. Machine vision, Raspberry Pi, and circular bioeconomy infield applications of agricultural engineering. ABEN AgTech Expo 2026. Graduate Students Poster of Dr. Igathinathane, C.* Research Group. February 14, 2026. ABEN, NDSU, Fargo, ND (Poster Presentation).
  • Joice, A., Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J. 2026. A low-cost, real-time, infield evapotranspiration monitoring system for field crops using Raspberry Pi. Northern Pulse Growers Association (NPGA) Research Social & Poster Session, January 26, Minot, ND (Poster presentation).

2025

  • Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Joice, A., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Hebert, D. 2025. Evaluating the growth morphology of microgreens in the greenhouse using luminescent Quantum-Dot films. 2nd Annual ND Controlled Environment Agriculture Conference, August 13, 2025. Bismarck, ND (Poster Presentation).
  • Joice, A., Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Igathinathane, C.*, Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D. 2025. Optimizing lightweight edge machine and deep learning models for Raspberry Pi in precision agriculture. ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 13–16, 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada (Abstract submitted).
  • Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Joice, A., Igathinathane, C.*, Archer, D., Friedrichsen, C. 2025. Integrating Quantum Dot films and circular bioeconomy practices for sustainable microgreen farming. ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 13–16, 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada (Abstract submitted).
  • Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Igathinathane, C.*, Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D. 2025. Modeling color kinetics and degradation in jasmine flowers using ImageJ software. ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 13–16, 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada (Abstract submitted).
  • Tufaique, T., Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Igathinathane, C.* 2025. Integrating image processing and nematology for soil fertility assessment: A novel inter-disciplinary approach. ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 13–16, 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada (Abstract submitted).
  • Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Kronberg, S., Christensen, R., Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D. 2025. Evaluation of cattle grazing and plant species preference—A systematic literature review. ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 13–16, 2025, Toronto, ON, Canada (Abstract submitted).
  • Joice, A., Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D. 2025. An embedded vision system for early spoilage detection in biomass storage using Raspberry Pi and OpenCV. Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy (S-1075), July 10–11, 2025, NDSU Fargo, ND, USA. “Travel award” awarded $150 (Poster Presentation).
  • Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.*, Hebert, D., Liebig, M., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D. 2025. Enhancing microgreen cultivation and postharvest biomass utilization using Quantum-Dot films. Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy (S-1075), July 10–11, 2025, NDSU Fargo, ND, USA. “Travel award” awarded $150 + Best Poster awarded $100 (Poster Presentation).
  • Tufaique, T., Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Gupta, M.J., Igathinathane, C.* 2025. A machine vision framework for sustainable disease monitoring in cereal crops: Toward a biobased agricultural economy. Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy (S-1075), July 10–11, 2025, NDSU Fargo, ND, USA. “Travel award” awarded $150 (Poster Presentation).
  • Gupta, M.J., Joice, A., Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Igathinathane, C.*, Kronberg, S., Christensen, R., Whippo, C., Hendrickson, J., Archer, D. 2025. Evaluation of cattle grazing vis-à-vis biomass estimation for sustainable ecosystems. Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy (S-1075), July 10–11, 2025, NDSU Fargo, ND, USA (Poster Presentation).
  • Jammeh, P.T., Igathinathane, C.†, Hulke, B., Prasifka, J., Tazeen, H., Sun, X., Monono, E. 2025. Machine vision-based mass grading of red sunflower seed weevil-infested seeds using ImageJ. Science and Engineering for a Biobased Industry and Economy (S-1075), July 10–11, 2025, NDSU Fargo, ND, USA (Poster Presentation).
  • Tufaique, T., Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Gupta, M. J., Igathinathane, C.*. 2025. Integrating AI and remote sensin for crop disease monitoring: A review of current trends. 2025 ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. 24–25 April 2025. (Poster presentation).
  • Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Tazeen, H., Gupta, M. J., Igathinathane, C.*. 2025. Automated real-time plant health monitoring prototype model in greenhouse using Raspberry Pi and triad spectroscopy sensor. 2025 ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. 24–25 April 2025. (Oral presentation).
  • Tazeen, H., Tufaique, T., Joice, A., Gupta, M. J., Igathinathane, C.*. 2025. 2025. Automated characterization of wheat grain morphology using computer vision techniques. 2025 ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. 24–25 April 2025. (Oral presentation).
  • Gupta, M. J., Tazeen, H., Joice, A., Tufaique, T., Igathinathane, C.*. 2025. Assessing physico-chemical and textural properties of wheat-cashew apple-finger millet flour composite based cookies using ImageJ. 2025 ASABE North Central Intersectional Conference, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND. 24–25 April 2025. (Oral presentation).
  • Toledo, D.*, Hendrickson, J., Liebig, M., Kobilansky, C., Carrlson, A., Kronberg, S., Christensen, R., Archer, D., Branson, D., Rand, T., Campbel, J., Igathinathane, C.. 2025. Multi-species grazing, mob grazing, and fire effects on cool-season grass invaded rangelands of the northern great plains of North America. XII International Rangeland Congress, Australia, 2025. (Proceedings - Submitted).