Penn State Project Uses AI and Smartphones to Revolutionize Global Farming
Imagine having a pocket-sized agricultural expert available 24/7. That’s the reality shaping up for millions of farmers across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, thanks to PlantVillage, an innovative project spearheaded by Penn State University.
This groundbreaking initiative, initially funded by the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and later bolstered by a grant from the Institute of Energy and the Environment, leverages the power of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the ubiquitous smartphone to combat plant diseases, pest invasions, and the challenges posed by climate change.
David Hughes, the Dorothy Foehr Huck and J. Lloyd Huck Chair in Global Food Security at Penn State, was inspired by the U.S. land-grant university system, a unique network focused on research, education, and outreach in agriculture.
"I was blown away on day one," Hughes recalls. "It’s a unique university system that was established here in this country to do applied research, education, and extension work. I wanted to provide these resources that we have here in Happy Valley to the world." Recognizing the potential of AI and cloud computing advancements, Hughes envisioned a way to bridge the gap between Happy Valley and Silicon Valley.
A critical problem PlantVillage addresses is the global shortage of agricultural experts.
"The ratio between extension workers and farmers is maybe one extension worker for 3,000 farmers, or sometimes 12,000 farmers," Hughes explains. "But in every village, there is a smartphone. So, we developed AI systems inside the phone to work offline that are either as good as human experts or better."
PlantVillage has become a lifeline for farmers battling devastating pests like locust swarms and the fall armyworm, an invasive caterpillar wreaking havoc on corn crops.
"We created a commercial enterprise where locals are selling the solution," Hughes shares. This solution involves a biological control predator: a tiny wasp that is released into the fields to hunt down and eliminate the caterpillars. Initial results have shown a remarkable 55% increase in yields for farmers who embrace this approach.
Hughes’ project goes beyond pest control, tackling the broader threat of climate change head-on. Through the USAID Current and Emerging Threats to Crops Innovation Lab, which Hughes oversees, over 180 million of these beneficial wasps have been released, offering a sustainable solution and creating local jobs.
PlantVillage’s impact extends further with its spin-off company, PlantVillage+. This venture, closely partnered with Penn State, focuses on developing solutions for a world grappling with climate change. One such initiative involves capturing and storing carbon in the ground through a process that converts agricultural waste into biochar.
Biochar acts as a natural carbon sink, enriching the soil for future crops and reducing atmospheric carbon levels. PlantVillage+ also empowers carbon credit sales, allowing companies and individuals to offset their carbon footprint by investing in these soil-enhancement programs.
"Now we can go to a company like Microsoft or an individual in the United States and say, ‘You’re producing pollution. Let me help you pay for your pollution,’" Hughes explains. "Then they pay PlantVillage+, and we take out the carbon. We’re removing the carbon but also helping you reduce emissions overall.”
Interested in listening to Hughes discuss the PlantVillage project in detail? Check out the podcast “Growing Impact,” a production of the Institute of Energy and the Environment at Penn State.
Follow the link to learn more about this groundbreaking initiative transforming agriculture across the globe.
Biochar photo by Penn State Category:
