TomorrowNow.org presented groundbreaking efforts to support climate-resilient agriculture at the AIM for Climate Women and Youth Side Event during the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024.
Kigali, Rwanda – TomorrowNow was honored to connect with fellow climate innovators at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 #AFS2024, and take the stage to share progress that we have made to operationalize weather tech and drive investment towards masking Africa weather-informed and climate resilient.
While speaking at the #AFS2024 AIM for Climate Youth & Women Side Event hosted by the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) & USAID, Our Regional Programme Coordinator Ronald Dianga called for continued cooperation to ensure that weather & climate innovation becomes relevant and useful at the last mile.
Mr. Diang’a shared his personal perspective as an experienced farmer who has grown to appreciate the value of “knowing the weather” as a key factor when making on-farm decisions around crop management practices in a changing climate.
“If there’s one thing I have learned in my 7 years of farming experience, knowing the weather matters!
This is why getting localized weather insights paired with recommendations about agronomic practices in the hands of farmers, including youth and women, matters to us at TomorrowNow”
- Ronald Diang’a, Regional Programme Coordinator, TomorrowNow.org.
At the same event, Our Head of Partnerships Dr. Boniface Akuku formed part of a discussion panel that was moderated by Evan Sieradzki from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to unpack the importance of multi stakeholder collaboration in addressing climate resilience for agriculture.
Speaking alongside food systems leaders including Mashoko Chakanyuka (AGRA), Dr. Susan Kaaria (African Women in Agricultural Research and Development), and Dr. David Hughes (PlantVillage), Dr. Akuku shared progress that has been made since 2022 when TomorrowNow.org, Tomorrow.io and partners launched an Africa-first innovation sprint to empower 20 million smallholder farmers over five years with next-gen location-based timely agri-weather services.
So far, we have reached over 4.8M Kenyan farmers until the March-April-May 2024 planting season with weekly agri-weather advisories as part of our commitment to help smallholder farmers achieve local resilience and prosperity.
Why Weather Matters for Climate Resilience
As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, we are witnessing changes in pests, diseases, and traditional seed viability.
Warmer temperatures are accelerating pest life cycles, and shifting rainfall patterns are creating environments where diseases thrive, threatening crops.
To adapt, farmers must plant climate-resilient seed varieties. With next-generation innovation, we can study weather patterns to develop crops that withstand climate stresses and use predictive models to combat pest and disease outbreaks.
This is why TomorrowNow is at the forefront of leveraging weather data to empower farmers across Africa, transforming weather from a challenge into a critical enabler of sustainable agriculture.
By studying historical and predictive weather patterns, we can anticipate crop challenges and develop resilient seed varieties, from drought-tolerant crops for arid regions to flood-resistant varieties for wetter areas.
Even more exciting is the use of predictive models that can provide early warnings about pests and diseases, allowing for timely interventions to protect crops.
Through the Global Access Platform, a flagship initiative powered by partnerships and philanthropic capital, TomorrowNow is working to provide high-quality, analysis-ready weather and climate data for food security applications. This platform is designed to benefit organizations that serve smallholder farmers across Africa by delivering the data needed to drive sustainable practices, develop better seeds, and implement effective adaptation strategies.
The result? Increased agricultural productivity, with billions in profits flowing directly to farmers.
