NEC Corporation and San Francisco-based startup ClimateAi have developed an AI-driven model designed to support smart farming in Africa by measuring the effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies for crops like cocoa and rice. The model integrates ClimateAi’s long-range climate forecasting with NEC’s agricultural technology to assess how climate change may impact crop yields and evaluate the potential return on investment from adaptation measures such as irrigation systems, switching to climate-resilient crop varieties, or adjusting planting schedules. The project will be showcased at the TICAD Business Expo & Conference in Yokohama in August 2025, part of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).
The initiative addresses a critical gap in climate adaptation for agriculture. While global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand carbon credit markets are progressing, the implementation of adaptation strategies has lagged, partly due to difficulties in quantifying their cost-effectiveness. Agriculture is particularly vulnerable to changing temperatures, water shortages, and soil degradation. NEC and ClimateAi’s model allows farmers, development banks, governments, and investors to calculate the economic outcomes of various adaptation measures, making it easier to identify strategies that offer the most benefit and promote sustainable, cost-effective farming.
The model was tested on cocoa and rice cultivation across several African regions, focusing on three adaptation strategies: implementing irrigation infrastructure, adopting climate-adapted crop varieties, and modifying planting schedules. Interactive demonstrations of the model are intended to help organizations estimate the impact of funding adaptation projects and facilitate evidence-based decision-making for both public and private stakeholders.
Early findings indicate that AI can effectively assess the cost-effectiveness of adaptation strategies for rice and cocoa. By quantifying potential returns, the model can help attract support from governments, development banks, and private investors. NEC and ClimateAi are also exploring partnerships with irrigation and seed suppliers to bring practical solutions to market. Beyond agriculture, the model offers potential applications in sectors such as infrastructure and manufacturing, where climate adaptation strategies are increasingly necessary.
Looking ahead, NEC and ClimateAi plan to continue refining the model, sharing results at TICAD and other industry events to gather feedback and inform commercialization strategies. Their collaboration demonstrates how combining advanced climate forecasting with agricultural technology can create actionable tools for sustainable and climate-resilient farming, supporting both farmers and investors in navigating the challenges posed by climate change in Africa.
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