Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has announced the launch of the Institute for Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence (IAAI), a pioneering digital advisory hub established in collaboration with the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and the Gates Foundation. The institute is dedicated to strengthening global food security by improving the lives and livelihoods of over 43 million smallholder farmers through scalable digital advisory tools and support.
The IAAI is a core component of Abu Dhabi’s AI for Agriculture Ecosystem, a global platform designed to leverage artificial intelligence for enhanced agricultural resilience worldwide.
A Global Collaboration for Food Security
By bringing together world-class partners, the IAAI aims to create a new model for international collaboration that directs cutting-edge research and innovation to the countries that need it most.
Her Excellency Mariam Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and MD of 2PointZero, said: “The Institute for Agriculture and AI reflects the UAE’s ambition to place artificial intelligence at the service of global food systems. This institute reinforces Abu Dhabi’s AI Ecosystem for Global Agricultural Development and demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to driving solutions that strengthen resilience and improve lives around the world.”
Eric Xing, President and University Professor of MBZUAI, commented on the university’s commitment to social good. “Together with the Presidential Court, Gates Foundation, and our partners, we will build the datasets, technologies, and training pathways needed to offer localized, real-time, and scalable support to millions of smallholder farmers. This initiative is a forward-looking investment in the future of farming and global food security through the power of AI.”
Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation, said: “Around the world, smallholder farmers are facing the harshest impacts of climate change with the fewest tools to adapt. The AI for Agriculture Ecosystem helps change that by putting practical, data-driven solutions directly in farmers’ hands.”
Building a Foundational AI Data Corpus
A central mission of the IAAI is to address critical gaps in agricultural data related to language, geography, crop types, and farming practices. The institute will develop a new data corpus for agriculture, creating a trusted, central repository of high-quality data to train AI models safely and effectively.
This foundational dataset will enable the development of open-access advisory systems capable of delivering unprecedented accuracy. These systems will provide real-time, localized insights on crops, pests, soil, weather, and markets, empowering farmers to make smarter decisions, boost productivity, and build resilience against climate change.
Deployable AI Solutions for Farmers
The institute’s core research programs will focus on developing deployable research outputs tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers. These include:
- Multimodal diagnostic models that use images and data to accurately detect crop diseases and pests.
- Voice-based advisory systems designed to speak local languages and adapt to varying literacy levels among farmers.
- Geo- and time-aware Large Language Models (LLMs) that incorporate real-time data and region-specific agricultural knowledge.
About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
MBZUAI is the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. The university empowers the next generation of AI leaders, driving innovation and impactful applications of AI through world-class education and interdisciplinary research. In 2025, MBZUAI launched its first undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in AI, with two distinct streams in Business and Engineering.
Source: Zawya
