TomorrowNow.org was honored to be featured by NPR, one of the United States’ leading media organizations, for our efforts to empower last-mile communities to adapt to climate change. The article highlights how our localized weather services, delivered in partnership with weather & climate security company Tomorrow.io & the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), are transforming agriculture for smallholder farmers most vulnerable to climate shocks.
Scaling Innovation for Community-Level Climate Resilience
As NPR noted, “Successful farming can also act as a stepping stone for families and communities to invest in future generations.”
This belief is central to TomorrowNow’s mission: equipping farmers with the weather insights they need not just to survive but to thrive, ensuring they can secure brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
Localized weather insights are more than forecasts—they are lifelines for farmers navigating the uncertainties of climate change. By pairing cutting-edge technology with farmer-centric approaches, we’ve made strides toward sustainable, community-driven solutions.
At TomorrowNow, we are committed to:
- Rapid scale: Expanding access to localized weather insights across Africa.
- Sustained impact: Building resilience through weather-smart agricultural practices.
- Systems transformation: Partnering across sectors to embed weather intelligence in farming systems.
Why Weather Matters Now
The stakes are high. Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns are reshaping agriculture. Farmers face evolving threats, including:
- Pests and diseases: Accelerated by warming temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns.
- Crop challenges: Traditional seeds struggle under climate stresses, necessitating resilient varieties.
- With innovative tools, including predictive models and localized weather insights, we’re empowering farmers to stay ahead of these challenges.
Our work is already making a difference. For example, smallholder farmers in Kenya are receiving agroweather advisories via SMS, enabling them to make informed decisions. Farmer Stephen shared shared with NPR:
“I have just received an alert that it’s going to rain tomorrow. Since joining this agroweather advisory programme, I can farm confidently and generate more income to secure my children’s future through education.”
Looking ahead, we aim to unlock and sustain the transformative potential of next-generation weather intelligence for 100 million people in Africa by 2030, creating over $7 billion in community-level value.
Leveraging partnerships and transformative philanthropy, we are delivering localized weather information tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers. This work not only helps farmers adapt to climate change but also supports broader food security and economic empowerment goals.
Radio Interview: https://www.npr.org/2024/10/05/nx-s1-5131439/text-messages-are-helping-african-farmers-with-their-production
Article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/10/21/g-s1-27810/climate-change-weather-app-farm
