University of Sharjah and IBM team up for sustainable agriculture app
The University of Sharjah has, in collaboration with IBM, launched My FarmWell, a mobile app designed to tackle water scarcity challenges and transform sustainable agriculture across the UAE and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Leveraging water and climate data, and cutting-edge technologies from IBM including cloud, data intelligence and more, My FarmWell provides farmers with timely, farm-level insights that helps them improve productivity and boost the sustainability of their farming.
Data points which the app provides includes current water levels, historical groundwater trends, water quality indices, and crop recommendations. Using this data, farmers can drive smarter decisions, optimize irrigation strategies, enhance all-year-round productivity, and better navigate local regulations.
“My FarmWell equips farmers with crucial insights that facilitate smarter water use and long-term sustainability,” said Adewale Giwa, Principal Investigator of the project.
Speaking on the launch, University of Sharjah Chancellor Essam El-Din Ajami, said: “This milestone aligns with the university’s strategic commitment to serving local and regional communities through impactful research that addresses environmental challenges””
Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, Maamar Bettayeb, affirmed the keenness of the university’s research sector to collaborate with the private sector and institutions in conducting research of tangible societal benefit. He noted that “My FarmWell represents a practical application of cutting-edge innovations in sustainability, offering solutions to pressing environmental challenges.”
Born out of the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, a social innovation program that applies IBM technologies, My FarmWell can be downloaded in the Apple Store and Google Play.
“My FarmWell is a great example of how IBM technology can help businesses of all sizes manage through environmental risks,” said Shukri Eid, General Manager for the Gulf, Levant, and Pakistan at IBM.
