Harnessing AI for Agriculture's Green Transition and Climate Resilience: Insights from GPAI Summit 2024 Session

Dr B. Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), the Asian regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), participated in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2024 held in Belgrade, Serbia, on 3–4 December 2024. On 4 December, he participated in a panel discussion on “AI in Agriculture Green Transition and Climate: Transforming Practices for the Future.”

The panel explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing agriculture's green transition and tackling climate challenges. Discussions focused on how AI-driven solutions can enhance sustainability, optimise resource use, and minimise the environmental footprint of agricultural practices. Key innovations highlighted included AI applications that strengthen climate resilience and reshape the future of agriculture.

In his address, Dr Shadrach underscored that the climate crisis is exacerbated by unmet NetZero commitments, especially regarding Scope 3 emissions reporting, and an over-reliance on private sector initiatives with limited engagement from the public and farmers. He emphasised AI’s potential to address these issues by improving air pollution management through predictive and air quality modelling, supporting sustainable agriculture through optimised land use, and reducing emissions from livestock and crop production. He also noted AI’s capacity to boost food security by increasing yields, cutting waste, and fostering regenerative systems. Additionally, he highlighted AI’s role in efficient water resource management and solid waste reduction, key to promoting sustainable farming and environmental preservation.

The panel included other distinguished speakers such as Chetan Aggarwal, Public Policy Consultant and Visiting Fellow at the Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG), India; Clara Neppel, Senior Director at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Europe; Oskar Marko, Assistant Director of the BioSense Institute; and Vladimir Crnojevic, Director of the BioSense Institute and a member of the UN 10-Member Group.