Page 116 - AI Standards for Global Impact: From Governance to Action

AI Standards for Global Impact: From Governance to Action

17�2 Demo: Project Resilience

The Irrigation Strategy part of Project Resilience from Cognizant Labs leverages the AquaCrop
crop growth simulator to optimize irrigation strategies. Users can select parameters such as
region and crop type, for example "Champion, Nebraska" with "Maize," to customize strategies.
The demo enables adjustments of maximum irrigation (0.00–763.26 mm) and mulch levels
(0.00–100%), visualizing precipitation, irrigation, yield, and mulch trends from May to October
through an interactive graph.

An example scenario highlighted candidate ID "93_67," featuring a total irrigation of 407.00
mm, 4% mulch, and a final yield of 14.44 tonnes. The demo is accessible here.

17�3 Farming the future – Laying the groundwork for scalable AI

Real-world AI applications from precision farming and climate forecasting to digital farmer
platforms presented in this workshop, while emphasizing the importance of standards, global
collaboration, and capacity-building, are shown below:
i. IFAD highlighted AI’s potential in rural development, driving climate adaptation,
sustainability, and improved livelihoods. It showcased scalable pathways for food systems
transformation through data interoperability, AI-driven advisory services, and climate
intelligence. The "Digital Green Farmer Chat" pilot programme exemplifies inclusivity,
with a majority of its users being practicing farmers and notable female participation.
This programme addresses diverse farmer queries – ranging from crop management
and pest control to market pricing – providing actionable and timely support. Real-
world applications include climate information systems in Tanzania, credit evaluation in
Mexico, and salinity alerts in Vietnam, alongside the inclusive Digital Green Farmer Chat
pilot. Internally, IFAD leverages platforms like Omnidata, Blossom AI, and Harvest AI to
streamline operations and enhance project design for greater impact.
ii. Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute highlighted the transformation of agriculture through AI
and IoT, moving from traditional methods to advanced digital systems. The presentation
emphasized agriculture’s complexity, with millions of decisions made each season, and
identified key use cases and standardization gaps. Major initiatives include a digital avatar
architecture to unify fragmented systems, the NaLamKI Project for an open interoperable
ecosystem, and the ACRAT project promoting climate-resilient farming in Telangana,
India. GeoAI and AgriFoodLoop showcase innovative applications in soil conservation and
circular agriculture, with plans to scale in Argentina. The presentation also underscored the
outputs of ITU/FAO Focus Group on "Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT)
for Digital Agriculture" (FG-AI4A) and highlighted the need for continued work beyond the
focus group linking projects, data, and stakeholders to drive digital food systems forward.
iii. Germany's Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity detailed its efforts
to advance digitalization and interoperability in agriculture. The focus is on enhancing
sustainability and efficiency through innovative technologies, AI applications, and
knowledge transfer, supported by initiatives like the "Digital Trial Fields." While 5G
infrastructure is expanding, challenges remain in achieving seamless data exchange
between devices, prompting over €15 million in funding for projects addressing open-
source software and coordinated machine management.
iv. Abris Inc. shared insights on "Letzfarm: AI-Driven Smart Farming Education for Smallholder
Farmers" showcasing how AI can empower smallholder farmers to achieve sustainable
agriculture, higher yields, and greater resilience against climate challenges, particularly
in vulnerable small island economies. The mobile-first Letzfarm platform delivers
personalized recommendations by integrating weather patterns, soil conditions, pest
management, post-harvest storage, and real-time market prices, resulting in measurable
impacts such as a 15% yield increase and 20% reduction in crop losses for 2,000 farmers

104