Artificial Intelligence: How could it transform agriculture?

For most of us this year, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has leapt from the realm of the possible to the inevitable. Sectors from healthcare to media are grappling with AI’s abilities, and agriculture is no exception. CGIAR scientists have already spent years exploring how AI can further efforts to sustainably grow resilient crops and ensure that farmers adapt to climate change.

Three ongoing Aliance projects that draw on AI include: Tumaini (a smartphone app allowing banana farmers to solve 90% of major diseases and pests); Melisa (a chatbot that estimates the maize and wheat yield of Colombian farmers based on long-term weather predictions, soil and crop varieties, and sowing dates); and Artemis (computer vision technology systems that enable crop breeders to develop locally-adapted, climate-resilient varieties).