By Thembani Malapela In brief AI and Machine Learning technologies could transform the agri-food systems and help ending hunger. UN-Wide System is adopting the Artificial Intelligence in its programmes. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is adopting and experimenting with AI and Machine Learning across the agriculture domain. FAO is also aware of the impact of AI and is now a signatory to the " Rome Call for AI Ethics " Introduction In 2017, l wrote a blog on whether Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve agricultural productivit y and at that time, the...
ITU is organising " Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint ". A comprehensive Whole-of-Government approach for Rural Digital Transformation" webinar to be held 25 June 2020 at 14:00-15:30 Geneva time. In collaboration with Niger National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI), ITU is releasing a...
[As published by our partner International Telecommunications Union] In collaboration with Niger National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI), ITU is releasing a new joint publication entitled “ Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint ” to promote a promising approach to bringing meaningful connectivity and initiating digital transformation at disadvantaged rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. To oficially launch this publication, ITU is organising "Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint. A comprehensive Whole-of-Government approach for Rural Digital Transformation" webinar...
Background Young people are driving innovation in agri-food systems and have a key role to play in achieving global food security and nutrition. The current crisis has brought both new challenges and opportunities for young innovators working to transform the sector. Paramount to ensuring that young people and their transformative ideas thrive is the ability of governments and partners to deliver an enabling environment and the business and technical support they need to grow. The Zoominar will address the following questions: How have young ag-tech innovators been affected by the crisis? How...
The World Food Programme is scaling up operations in more than 80 countries with a little help from techies and creatives In a recent article , WFP has shared how the innovative use of technologies is helping the organization respond to the COVID19 pandemic. Technology and innovation have always been a key part of the WFP’s emergency response, but now, during a global pandemic, they are perhaps more critical than ever beforeWFP tapped its Innovation Accelerator to aid its response to coronavirus. Through the I nnovation Accelerator , WFP is supporting innovators and entrepreneurs around the...
ICT Update No. 93 published Over the last 20 years, the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA) has followed and reported on the changing landscape in ICTs for agriculture through the ICT Update . Last year, CTA published the Digitalisation of African Agriculture Report, 2018-2019 which advocated for the digital agricultural transformation that can feed the developing world, including Africa. ICT Update Issue 93 highlights This issue catalogues some projects and programmes CTA has done and how these are tackling the impacts of digitisation in agriculture. Some selected...
Call dates: 14 November 2019 to 31 January 2020 The FAO Digital Innovation Team through the e-Agriculture Community of Practice is calling for submission of (i) Good Practices or Promising on the use of ICTs and digital innovations in agriculture , and/or (ii) Digital Solutions in Agriculture . The aim of the Call is to enable members to share experiences, solutions, lessons learned and recommendations on various digital agriculture-relevant topics from the members of the e-Agriculture Community of Practice and beyond. Selected Good Practices and related experiences will be published and...
Co-Organized by the Malabo Montpellier Panel and IFPRI African countries have made considerable progress in increasing agricultural productivity and reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. But continued population growth, urbanization, changing diets, and climate change are putting pressure on...
The African Drone Forum’s Business Challenge is the first Pan-African business plan competition designed exclusively for African entrepreneurs that have identified new and innovative business models enabled through drone technology and data. The commercial use cases for drone applications can impact a broad array of sectors. At present, there are emerging applications in Africa related to healthcare delivery, land digitization, agriculture or livestock monitoring, disease surveillance, urbanization tracking, and flood impact assessment. The objective of the African Drone Business Challenge is...
The September Issue of ICT Update is now available online and reflects on the 20 years of publishing the ICT Update - nearly 100 issues . The current issue highlights three recurring themes – learning; barriers for inclusion and adoption of ICTs; and innovation and entrepreneurship.An editorial by Yanick Bakker and Chris Addison walks readers through the details of the three main highlights mentioned above. Read the editorial here Furthermore, their editorial reveals a rich history of development of the ICT Update alongside the developments in technology and regional focus of specific...
ITU is organising " Building Smart Villages: A Blueprint ". A comprehensive Whole-of-Government approach for Rural Digital Transformation" webinar to be held 25 June 2020 at 14:00-15:30 Geneva time. In collaboration with Niger National Agency for the Information Society (ANSI), ITU is releasing a...
Co-Organized by the Malabo Montpellier Panel and IFPRI African countries have made considerable progress in increasing agricultural productivity and reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. But continued population growth, urbanization, changing diets, and climate change are putting pressure on...
