In a pioneering effort to combat global hunger exacerbated by climate change, scientists at the University of Leeds are set to leverage advanced satellite analysis techniques to assist Kenyan farmers.
This initiative is part of a broader UK government investment aimed at utilising British science, technology, and innovation to address food insecurity worldwide. With an estimated 4.4 million people in Kenya facing acute food insecurity, the initiative aligns with a critical need for innovative solutions to enhance agricultural productivity.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Call for a Fundamental Shift
At a major summit on global food security, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the need for a fundamental shift in approaching food security. Acknowledging that almost one billion people worldwide regularly lack sufficient food, Sunak stressed the importance of long-term solutions to prevent food crises. He highlighted the role of science and technology in building resilient food supplies, announcing the launch of the UK-CGIAR Science Centre. This centre aims to drive cutting-edge research on flood-tolerant rice, disease-resistant wheat, and more, with the potential to impact millions across the poorest countries.
iSPARK Project: Unleashing the Power of Big Data Analysis
One of the key projects receiving UK government funding is iSPARK, a collaborative research initiative involving the University of Leeds, the Alliance Biodiversity-CIAT, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. iSPARK focuses on safeguarding food security in western Kenya, intending to apply its findings nationally and beyond. The project involves a unique approach, combining on-the-ground agricultural intervention data from Kenyan advisers with high-resolution satellite images of food-growing regions.
Bringing these large datasets together, scientists aim to unlock fresh insights into enhancing the productivity and resilience of Kenyan agriculture. The databases from on-the-ground interventions catalogue a myriad of approaches trialled with farmers, while satellite images provide a visual assessment of crop health. The integration of these datasets, often referred to as “the magic,” enables researchers to assess intervention effectiveness, identify correlations, and develop new analytic techniques using machine learning.
Andy Challinor, Professor of Climate Impacts at Leeds and a lead researcher, highlights the significance of coupling agricultural databases with Earth observation expertise. The goal is to develop novel techniques that offer a farm-scale view of intervention effectiveness. The research outputs will include new metrics for evaluating the sustainability and resilience of agricultural interventions in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Dr. Aniruddha Ghosh, Senior Scientist at Alliance Biodiversity-CIAT, emphasised the primary goal of significantly enhancing the resilience and productivity of Kenyan agriculture. Leveraging advanced satellite technology and machine learning, the research aims to provide actionable insights for small-scale producers, improving farming practices and food security in the region.
CGIAR’s Transformative Role in Food Security
The CGIAR, with a rich history of 50 years, has been instrumental in transforming food production globally, lifting millions out of hunger and poverty. Collaborating with the University of Leeds on various food security projects, CGIAR’s involvement underscores the global impact of combining cutting-edge technology, big data analysis, and on-the-ground expertise to address the challenges posed by climate change and food insecurity.