Global leaders and experts discuss the role of artificial intelligence in promoting sustainable agriculture
Abu Dhabi, 9 December / WAM / Global leaders and experts in the fields of agriculture and modern technologies discussed, during an international dialogue session held yesterday in Abu Dhabi, on the sidelines of the launch of the “Artificial Intelligence System for the Global Agricultural Sector” platform, the role of artificial intelligence in promoting sustainable agriculture and the resilience of food supply chains.
The speakers stressed that artificial intelligence enhances the ability to face agricultural challenges efficiently and intelligently, by providing accurate information to small farmers and policy makers, and compiling scattered data to provide practical tools that support governments, the research and the private sector.
They pointed out that the partnership between governments, scientific institutions, universities and development partners has proven effective in the past two years through the launch of four major initiatives under the leadership of the UAE, which reflects the country’s pioneering role in artificial intelligence and agriculture.
Regarding “the role of artificial intelligence in water management and agriculture,” His Excellency Abdullah Belala, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, said that water is the lifeblood of agriculture, and that 70% of fresh water is consumed in this sector, which calls for wise management of water resources.
He explained that artificial intelligence and future technologies contribute to predicting weather conditions and addressing desertification and water disasters such as floods, lack of rain, and groundwater depletion, and that the United Nations Water Conference will provide an opportunity to apply these technologies in smart agriculture and support decision-makers in monitoring issues such as sea level rise and improving decision-making.
Regarding “the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing smart agriculture programs globally,” Jürgen Volkling, Vice President of the World Bank Group for Agriculture, emphasized its ability to integrate small farmers into agricultural value chains, and provide integrated information including weather, prices, and pest control, pointing to the “AgriConnect” program, which links farmers with policies and the private sector.
He stressed that cooperation between governments and international institutions is necessary to achieve broad and sustainable impact, while accelerating research and data analysis and supporting productive and financial decision-making.
In the context of empowering “small farmers and building community trust,” Dr. Agnes Kalibata, founder and head of the “C4LMPact” group of consultants in Rwanda, explained that the success of artificial intelligence services in agriculture depends on building trust with farmers and local communities through government leadership and providing clear guidance and credibility in services while respecting traditional farmers’ experience, noting that involving young people as facilitators of modern technologies contributes to delivering information faster and more effectively, and that the solutions provided must be linked to the real problems that farmers face while benefiting from the local community to enhance Trust and credibility.
Regarding “the importance of open data and global infrastructure,” Martin van Nieuwkoop, Director of Agriculture Development at the Gates Foundation, pointed out that artificial intelligence constitutes a global infrastructure for transforming agricultural knowledge into practical services, with the need for data and models to be available as global public goods to ensure that recommendations and guidance reach hundreds of millions of small farmers by 2030.
He stressed that partnerships between the UAE, global research institutions and the World Bank contribute to enabling farmers to obtain knowledge and agricultural tools comprehensively and on a large scale.
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