African researchers and innovators are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence and digital technologies to address challenges affecting agriculture, healthcare and livelihoods, demonstrating how locally developed solutions can tackle some of the continent’s most pressing needs. Among them is Ugandan researcher Dr Rose Nakasi, whose team is combining a smartphone, microscope and artificial intelligence to improve ...

The digital divide in African agriculture is threatening to prevent millions of smallholder farmers from benefiting from advances in artificial intelligence and other agricultural technologies, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO estimates that fewer than 10% of African farmers currently have access to digital agricultural services, despite the growing use of ...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a practical tool for Africa’s young people, offering new ways to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food systems and create opportunities across the continent’s growing agri-food economy. For a continent facing rising food demand, climate pressures and a significant youth employment challenge, AI and data-driven technologies could play an increasingly important ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a potentially powerful tool for transforming agriculture across Africa, helping farmers respond to climate change, improve productivity, reduce costs and make better decisions. For a continent where nearly 60% of the workforce in sub-Saharan Africa depends on agriculture, the stakes are significant. Yet millions of farmers continue to operate ...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Smart Africa Secretariat, has launched the third edition of the Innovate Africa Challenge, an initiative designed to accelerate the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that improve climate-smart agriculture across Africa. Under the theme “From Ideation to Deployment,” the 2026 challenge ...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful tools reshaping agriculture across Africa, offering farmers new ways to improve productivity, manage climate risks, access finance and make better-informed decisions. While Africa remains home to vast agricultural potential, productivity continues to lag behind global averages. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), cereal yields ...

By Brandon Moss Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries across the globe, and agriculture is no exception. Once considered futuristic technology reserved for advanced economies, AI is now becoming an increasingly valuable tool for African farmers seeking to improve productivity, reduce costs and strengthen resilience against climate change. Across the continent, governments, agribusinesses, technology ...

According to Daniel Huba, Head of Markets and Partnerships Execution for Growth Segments at Mastercard, AI is helping shift African agriculture from fragmented, informal production systems to connected, data-driven value chains that create greater value for farmers and agribusinesses alike. With the African Development Bank projecting that Africa’s food and agriculture market could be worth ...

SAS Uses AI And Data Analytics To Support South African Micro-Farmers Global data and AI company SAS is helping South African micro-farmers improve crop planning, increase income potential and strengthen food security through a Data for Good initiative that applies advanced analytics to small-scale farming. Developed in partnership with data science consultancy dataDecisions.ai and the ...

LONDON, United Kingdom – Ugandan technology entrepreneur Shifra Ainomugisha has been named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year after developing artificial intelligence and solar-powered agricultural technologies that help reduce post-harvest losses, improve food security and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers. Ainomugisha received the award at the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards in London, ...