Here, Achraf El Allali, Associate Professor of Bioinformatics at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), explores how innovative technologies and digital farming can help cultivate a more resilient agricultural ecosystem
The 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report revealed a sobering reality: one in 11 people globally and one in five people in Africa are facing hunger. As the population grows, this is only set to increase. Indeed, by 2050, the world will need to feed nearly 10 billion people. As climate change continues to accelerate food insecurity, the agriculture sector must embrace technological innovations to help enhance productivity and create a more resilient world.
The constraints of conventional farming
Agriculture has always been a high-stakes endeavour, where farmers must balance experience, intuition, and historical data to make critical decisions. But in an era of climate volatility and increasing demand for produce, these traditional methods are no longer enough. Many long-established processes are struggling to account for the continuously changing variables that shape agricultural outcomes, such as weather events, market demands, and water availability. This leaves farmers vulnerable to uncertainty, a major challenge in an industry where precision is essential for success.
For example, conventional yield prediction models, which are often based on linear regression or field surveys, often fail to effectively handle the competing dynamics of weather patterns, soil health, and nutrient management. This can lead to inefficient resource use, unpredictable yields, and ultimately, profit losses for the farmers themselves. Given that agriculture is a low-margin industry at the best of times, it’s critical that farmers adopt new tools and technologies to help address these challenges.
Digital farming
Technological advancements are providing a lifeline for farmers. Precision agriculture – a management concept that uses technology to improve farming practices – is transforming the industry. This approach involves utilising various devices, including the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and automated tools to gather data that enhances agricultural efficiency and maximises crop yields.
For example, IoT devices can be used to monitor soil health to help prevent over-fertilisation. The tools can also measure other areas of the environment, such as temperature, humidity, and lighting, which all support optimal crop health.
Alongside IoT systems, AI is transforming agriculture, addressing inefficiencies that have persisted for centuries and introducing new innovative methods to combat these challenges. AI tools can be used for crop disease detection, weed control systems, and predictive analysis for crop yields. In fact, by using data from over 1,700 maize farms in China, UM6P research found that a specific AI model can predict maize yields with an impressive 87% accuracy, helping to improve food security.
This is particularly beneficial for Africa, where maize is the main staple food crop for more than 300 million Africans. Agriculture on the continent has long relied on generational wisdom, intuition, and basic meteorological patterns to guide planting and harvesting. However, climate change has made this traditional approach unreliable. Rainfall patterns are shifting unpredictably, droughts are more frequent, and new pests are devastating yields. Technology can offer enhanced precision and data-driven solutions, helping to boost crop yields and improve food supplies.
Technology is also transforming fertiliser management, an area where achieving the right balance is key. Overuse depletes soil, contaminates water, and can cause biodiversity loss. On the other hand, underuse can damage the soil by depleting essential nutrients and thereby weakening yields. However, AI can now analyse detailed soil data, providing exact recommendations to ensure that each plant receives exactly what it needs. One study found that AI-driven soil management can boost crop yields by up to 20% while cutting water and fertiliser use by 15%.
Water wise
Food is not the only resource that farmers need to consider; water conservation is another concern. Water shortages are a pressing issue, with four billion people experiencing severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. The agriculture sector is a major contributor to this water stress, accounting for an estimated 70% of global water withdrawals.
AI can help reduce water usage and create more efficient management systems through smart irrigation systems, leak detection monitoring, and water demand forecasting. Additionally, vertical farming, which refers to the practice of growing crops in stacked layers using artificial lights, is a new technique that can use up to 98% less water than traditional methods. The future of sustainable farming relies on both improving food production and enhancing water conservation efforts.
Future-focused farming
To build a more resilient agricultural ecosystem, and to effectively capitalise on the advantages of these new and emerging technologies, it is essential that funding for AI research and precision farming is expanded. Policymakers and governments must also invest in data standardisation and infrastructure to enable optimal crop production and improve food security across the globe.
Once these foundations are in place, collaborations between tech companies, agronomists, and local farmers will help to scale these solutions and address the unique challenges faced by the sector. As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, the future of farming will be driven as much by data and AI as it is by soil and seeds.
