On 12 December 2022 H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, attended a ceremony at ICBA’s headquarters to launch a new AI-powered mobile application for detecting crop disorders.
Called Dr. Nabat, the application is a result of collaboration between ICBA and the University of Barcelona, Spain.
Created with the support of local partners in Egypt, Tunisia, and the UAE, the application is designed to aid smallholder farmers and extension specialists in spotting crop disorders at early stages, and thus minimizing yield losses and improving incomes.
It can identify 18 different common disorders affecting tomato, capsicum, and cucumber.
H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, said: “This app is a prime example of how we can harness the power of technology to address pressing concerns. In the face of ever-rising challenges, with climate change at the forefront, we believe that technological interventions will optimize agricultural practices, enhance harvest quality and quantity, and notably improve the lives of farmers. We are confident the app will prove to be a game changer for smallholder farmers, providing them with early diagnosis at the click of a button and helping them save their crops.”
Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA, said: “Smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of food security. They are the backbone of many agricultural economies, yet they often lack access to information about pests and diseases. We have developed this mobile application to help bridge this gap and put knowledge in their hands.”
Provided in three languages - Arabic, English, and French – the application offers recommendations for dealing with each disorder.
It is available for download on Google Play and a web-based version can be accessed at: https://drnabat.biosaline.org.
