Listen in: AI and crop breeding

When one of tech’s most influential voices, Astro Teller – CEO of Google X and Captain of Moonshots – spotlights agriculture, the world takes notice. In a recent episode of X, The Moonshot Factory’s podcast, David Guerena – Alliance Scientist – joined Teller in a conversation that became one of the series’ most popular releases, drawing tens of thousands of listeners worldwide. Known for hosting leaders in AI, space exploration, and digital innovation, the podcast has become a stage for bold ideas, and David’s inclusion shows how central agriculture now is to global conversations about the future.

A key focus of the discussion is Artemis, an Alliance project equipping plant breeders with digital tools to collect, analyze, and act on data faster than ever. Far from abstract, Artemis is rooted in practical solutions. Take ‘Bruno‘, a pushcart fitted with mobile phones that allows breeders to gather field data twice as fast. Bruno is designed to be locally manufactured – and repaired- anywhere in Africa. It’s a reminder that agricultural innovation is about tools that meet farmers and scientists where they are, democratizing access to technology.