Atlas AI & AGRA Signs MoU to Boost Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Atlas AI and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) backed by Rockefeller Foundation and other partners. This partnership would employ artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite imagery to measure and predict crop yields to invariably boost food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. This will leverage technology to empower millions of smallholder farmers with advanced equipment to transition into modern farming techniques.

The eleven sub-Saharan countries to benefit are Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Atlas AI generates actionable intelligence on agricultural and economic trends across the developing world. It uses machine learning algorithm, combined with terabytes of satellite imagery to survey lands, and view economic trends across developing worlds. It is a tech start-up focused on social impact, it is located in Silicon Valley and founded in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation.

The President of AGRA, Dr. Agnes Kalibata said that the organization is currently working in Kaduna and Niger States of Nigeria to fight food insecurity and transform smallholder farmers.

“There have been many exciting advances in data, satellite imagery, and machine learning for agriculture over the years. Until recently, very little of these technologies have been available to African farms due to the inability of farmers and governments to pay for them. We are delighted to partner with Atlas AI and the Rockefeller Foundation in making these cutting edge advances in digital technology real and bringing them home for the millions of smallholder farmers we work with to improve their yields and lives.”

AGRA is an alliance established in 2006 with roots in farming communities across the continent. It seeks to increase income and improve food security for 30 million farming households in 11 African countries by 2021. It focuses on problems related to seed production, soil health and access to markets by developing high-yielding and locally adapted seeds, storage facilities, expanded access to credits for farmers, suppliers and bargains for government policies that benefit farmers and agribusiness owners.

“We recognize that technology has the power to improve food security that is critical for both human welfare and economic growth in Africa, and we’re optimistic that this relationship represents the future of defeating large-scale food insecurity around the world,” said President of The Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Rajiv Shah.

He also said that the collaboration will utilize Atlas AI’s cutting-edge tools together with AGRA’s unique local data sets to help improve food security across sub-Saharan Africa. It will unpack the results from predictive analytics to aid government and private sector decision-makers in the face of emerging threats and shocks such as changing weather, diseases, and pests. This will support regional bodies in pushing for continental and global agricultural agenda.