Innovations in environmental science and agriculture emerge from interdisciplinary research. Low-cost IoT and AI-integrated systems optimize crop yield and lower costs for farmers, as developed by South Dakota State University researchers. Novel insights reveal uniformity in urban green space soil microbiomes across large geographic regions. Advances in enzymatic breakdown of polyester microfibers in waste demonstrate promising microplastic remediation approaches. Research also highlights tire wear particles as underestimated microplastic sources in soils, while color-changing sensors monitor plant health status for small-scale agriculture interventions.