Harare – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been recognized as 2nd runner-up for the ICT Innovator of the Year Award at the 2025 Zimbabwe ICT Excellence Awards for its Earth Observation for Agricultural Statistics (EOSTAT) initiative. The award highlights FAO’s efforts in transforming crop monitoring systems and strengthening national capacities for data-driven agrifood system development in Zimbabwe.
The global EOSTAT initiative helps countries establish Earth Observation-based crop statistics and monitoring systems. In Zimbabwe, the project focuses on harmonizing crop type and yield data collection practices to support informed decision-making, improve food security, enhance resilience, and advance sustainable development. Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa, emphasized that the award reflects FAO’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to modernize agriculture and empower communities.
The Zimbabwe ICT Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, impact, and technological advancement, recognizing individuals and organizations shaping the country’s digital future. Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services Tatenda Mavetera highlighted the importance of fostering digital innovation to support Zimbabwe’s progress.
Launched in 2023 with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), EOSTAT-Zimbabwe leverages satellite data and geospatial analytics for agricultural monitoring, food security planning, disaster risk reduction, and assessing climate-related hazards. The project is implemented in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, including the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, ZIMSTAT, ZINGSA, SIRDC, ZCHPC, NUST, MUAST, and the Meteorological Services Department.
FAO noted that the award represents a collective achievement with strong national ownership and collaboration. Zwelo Ndebele of the Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project emphasized that local commitment has been key to embedding the EO-based monitoring system within national institutions and building sustainable capacity for policy-relevant agricultural statistics.
The recognition follows another accolade for EOSTAT, the SDG Custodian Agency Prize at the 2025 GEO SDG Awards, which celebrates innovation in using Earth observations to advance sustainable development. The initiative supports strategic planning, early warning systems, and climate-smart agriculture by providing timely, reliable, and policy-relevant data.
FAO’s success with EOSTAT complements Zimbabwe’s broader technological advancements, including the recently approved National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, positioning the country as a regional leader in AI adoption and creating opportunities to integrate AI across productive sectors.
