{"id":62879,"date":"2022-10-03T17:09:43","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T14:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atpsnet.org\/stage\/?p=62879"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:11:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T11:11:06","slug":"ai4afs-hub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atpsnet.org\/stage\/ai4afs-hub\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Organization (Hub) for Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture and Food Systems (AI4AFS) Innovation Research Network in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Managing Organization (Hub) for Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture and Food Systems (AI4AFS) Innovation Research Network in Africa<\/strong><\/h2>

Project Duration:\u00a0<\/strong>2021-2024<\/p>

Principal Investigator:\u00a0<\/strong>Dr. Nicholas Ozor\u00a0\u00a0Email:\u00a0<\/strong>nozor@atpsnet.org<\/a><\/p>

Co-PIs:<\/strong>\u00a0Dr Henri Tonnang (Icipe<\/em>) and Jorge Kwadwo Appiah (Kumasi Hive)<\/p>

Other partne<\/strong>rs:<\/strong>\u00a0International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe<\/em>) and Kumasi Hive<\/p>

Grantor:<\/strong>\u00a0International Development Research Center (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Agency<\/p>

Grant Amount:\u00a0<\/strong>US$ 954,456<\/p>

Funding:\u00a0<\/strong>Call for Expression of Interest on Artificial Intelligence for Agriculture and Food Systems<\/a><\/p>

Project Description
<\/strong>Africa\u2019s population is expected to reach about 2.6 billion by 2050. This will require an increase in agricultural and food production by up to 70% to fit the need of the population, a serious challenge for the agriculture and food systems. Such requirement, in a context of resource scarcity, climate change, COVID-19 pandemic, and very harsh socioeconomic conjecture, is difficult to attain without the intervention of emerging technologies and innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) to leapfrog the transformations required in the sector.<\/p>

The overall objective of this initiative is to advance the responsible development, deployment, and scaling of homegrown AI research and innovations to tackle pressing challenges in agriculture and food systems in Africa. This will be accomplished through setting-up, managing, and supporting an innovation research network on AI for agriculture and food systems. This network will consist of 6-10 innovation research projects that will develop, deploy, test, and seek to scale responsible and homegrown artificial intelligence research and innovations.<\/p>

This project is part of the innovation stream of the Artificial Intelligence for Development Africa (AI4D Africa) program dedicated to a future where Africans across all regions create and use artificial intelligence to lead healthier, happier, and greener lives. AI4D Africa is co-funded by the Swedish International Development Agency and Canada\u2019s International Development Research Centre. AI4D Africa is a four-year, CAD 20 million, partnership between Canada\u2019s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Sweden\u2019s government agency for development cooperation (Sida). The program is dedicated to a future where Africans across all regions use\u00a0\u00a0 AI to lead happier, healthier and greener lives. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for all in Africa and beyond by partnering with Africa\u2019s science and policy communities to leverage AI through high-quality research, responsible innovation, and strengthening talent. Seeks to address the above challenges through supporting African-led development of responsible and inclusive AI.<\/p>

About the AI4AFS Hub
<\/em><\/strong>The ATPS,\u00a0Icipe<\/em>\u00a0and Kumasi Hive (Consortium) (The Hub) will establish and host a network consisting of 6-10 innovation research projects that will develop, deploy, test, and seek to scale responsible and African-led artificial intelligence research and innovations. This research will deepen our understanding of how to develop, deploy, and scale responsible AI innovations for sustainable agriculture and food systems in Africa. The project will also seek to use these lessons learned to inform African and international AI policy and practice conversations.<\/p>

Key Objectives
<\/strong><\/p>

  1. Deepen understanding of how to develop, deploy, and scale responsible AI innovations for sustainable AFS in Africa;<\/li>
  2. Build the capacity of African innovators and researchers to develop, deploy and scale responsible AI applications in AFS; and<\/li>
  3. Inform African and international AI policy and practice.<\/li><\/ol>


    Key Activities<\/strong><\/p>