TomorrowNow participates in a Generative AI workshop hosted by Microsoft Research Africa.
Nairobi, Kenya – TomorrowNow.org participated in the “Generative AI for Agriculture in Africa Working Session” hosted by Microsoft Research Africa to examine the transformative potential of Generative AI for small-scale agricultural workers and other stakeholders across Africa.
The workshop participants, including representatives from Microsoft Research (India & USA), TomorrowNow.org, Mastercard Foundation, Jagannath Growers, Digital Green and Government of Kenya, took a deep dive into the opportunities, use cases, and practical applications of Generative AI tools within the agricultural sector.
Our Regional Programme Coordinator Ronald Diang’a made a presentation about TomorrowNow.org’s Theory of Change that’s focused on empowering the ecosystem of farmer-facing organizations & research institutions to accelerate the adoption of next-gen weather tech for increased farmer prosperity & climate resilience.
TomorrowNow’s Innovation Testbed to Empower Last Mile Delivery
TomorrowNow.org’s innovation testbed is powered by partnership with weather data providers, data localization partners & program use cases ( Tomorrow.io, Salient Predictions, The Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory, Arable, Rhiza Research, Predictia Intelligent Data Solutions, Regrow, International Rice Research Institute, Regen Organics, CABI/Assimila & Kartoza) to operationalize weather & climate data in support of agricultural decision making across Africa.
Our current R&D efforts are focused on a groundbreaking partnership with Microsoft. Together, we are testing an AI Agriadvisor tool designed to integrate highly localized weather data with advanced Generative AI capabilities. The tool aims to transform the best agronomic practices into actionable advice. By doing so, it equips extension agents with the tools they need to better serve smallholder farmers, ultimately optimizing their farming decisions.
Harnessing AI for Sustainable Impact
At TomorrowNow.org, we are excited to leverage AI to democratize access to high-quality, localized weather data. We believe that by combining this data with expert insights, we can empower farmers to make more informed decisions that drive sustainable agricultural practices. Our ongoing journey in this learning process is not only about discovering new possibilities but also about sharing our findings to foster collective learning and innovation in the agricultural sector.
As we continue to explore the transformative potential of Generative AI for agriculture in Africa, we are excited about the prospects of creating meaningful impact. Stay tuned as we embark on this journey of discovery and innovation, striving to empower smallholder farmers and build resilient agricultural ecosystems across the continent.
