Barbados sets global example with AI Advisor for agriculture

Barbados sets global example by becoming the first country worldwide to roll out a national AI Agronomic Advisor. In a collaborative effort to support the sustainability and growth of its agricultural sector, the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), a statutory corporation of the Ministry of Agriculture Food & National Security of Barbados has partnered with global agtech company AGRIVI to introduce the innovative AI-driven advisory platform to improve productivity and sustainability of national agriculture.

The AI Agronomic Advisor is a virtual AI agronomy expert available to all farms in Barbados via WhatsApp at any time, 24/7. It serves as a direct channel between BADMC and the farming community, offering consultation, knowledge, and active involvement in critical agricultural matters. This initiative is designed to enhance productivity and sustainability in Barbados' agriculture by democratizing access to knowledge and advice to all farms.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security of Barbados in a statement highlighted:″The introduction of the AI Agronomic Advisor marks a significant advancement for our agricultural sector. By leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, we are empowering thousands of farmers with access to real-time knowledge and advice which is crucial to enhance their productivity and sustainability, and for the growth of our national agriculture. Thanks to our long-term partnership with AGRIVI in delivering farm management solutions, we have decided to pursue an even greater impact and leverage AI technology to support farmers, fostering economic opportunities, and ensuring food and nutrition security across Barbados″.

AI Agronomic Advisor is available to farmers through the platform they all use daily, WhatsApp, which makes it seamless to use and get personalized advice whenever they need it, 24/7. This AI platform brings immediate benefits to farmers through simple communication and instant access to advice, knowledge, and necessary information on agriculture, financing and subsidies, local government support and more. It also encourages active cooperation between BADMC and farmers through proactive sharing of information, education and upskilling in embracing digitalization.

Providing widespread access to this innovative tool on a national scale signifies a substantial milestone and achievement for Barbados, where agriculture serves as the backbone of the economy.

Matija Zulj, founder and CEO of AGRIVI highlighted: ″Governments have a major role in helping farms to improve the productivity, sustainability and livelihood of farms in their countries. We are honored and humbled that Barbados and BADMC have recognized AGRIVI as the trusted partner for the digitalization of their national agriculture. AGRIVI Engage AI Advisory platform is specifically designed to provide immediate access to knowledge and advice to every farm no matter of their size, at any time, via channel they already use and are familiar with. We look forward to supporting Barbados’ government and BADMC in creating a long-lasting positive impact for Barbadian agriculture.″

AGRIVI, one of global agtech pioneers with over a decade-long experience in digitalizing agriculture in over 50 countries, brings cutting-edge technology utilizing generative AI and expertise that enhances Barbados' capacity to lead in sustainable farming practices. The partnership underscores a commitment to equipping farmers with tools that promote efficiency and profitability while advancing food security goals.

The introduction of the AI Agronomic Advisor marks a significant milestone in Barbados' agricultural landscape, signaling a new era of technology-driven support for farmers and sustainable agricultural development.

Please contact Christina Xie at christina@agropages.com if you would like to share your company story or advertising in the upcoming 2024 Latin America Focus magazine.