Harnessing AI for Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Climate change is presenting a formidable challenge to global agriculture, with rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and increasing extreme weather events threatening food production and sustainability. In this context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is emerging as a critical tool for mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring agriculture resilience and sustainability on a global scale. Utilizing a desktop research methodology this paper explores the opportunities and challenges associated with AI technology in addressing climate-induced agricultural challenges. The findings of this paper indicate that despite AI technology holding great promise for advancing agriculture sustainability through precision farming, data-driven decision-making, crop monitoring, weather forecasting, labor efficiency, and supply chain optimization it faces challenges, particularly in regions with limited access to technology, such as the global south and that bridging the digital divide and addressing financial constraints are crucial steps in ensuring equitable access to AI solutions. Additionally, data privacy and security concerns must be addressed to build trust in AI systems. Ethical considerations, such as algorithmic bias, must be carefully managed to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities. The paper concludes that AI technology offers promising solutions to the agricultural challenges posed by climate change and that while there are challenges to overcome, the urgency of adopting AI in agriculture cannot be overstated. The paper furthermore indicates that the intersection of AI and agriculture holds the key to building climate resilience, optimizing resource usage, and fostering sustainability in global food production.