Researchers embrace artificial intelligence to tackle the banana disease in Burundi

Published Aug 5, 2022

Tridge summary

A team of scientists led by Dr Guy Blomme and Dr Michael Gomez Selvaraj from the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool to monitor the Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) in Burundi. The tool, which uses a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN) and machine learning methods to detect banana plants and diseases from aerial images, has a 90% success rate in detection in countries like the DRC and Uganda. The AI tool is aimed at supporting banana farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, where BBTD poses a significant threat to banana cultivation and the food security of over 100 million people. The team is also developing drone-based surveillance to determine local disease risk and delimit recovery areas.

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Original content

KIGALI, Aug 5 2022 (IPS) - A group of scientists involved in finding solutions to minimize the impact of a devastating banana virus in Burundi have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool for monitoring the disease. United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) research shows that the Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD), caused by the Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), is endemic in many banana-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The virus was first reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the 1950s and has become invasive and spread into 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Related IPS Articles Farmers in Senegal Adopt Farming as a Business to Beat Climate Change Fighting Loss of the Greater Mekong’s Prized Rosewood Forests Southeast Asian Farmers Adapt, Insure against Growing Climate Risks The disease has been reported in Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Malawi, ...

Source: Ipsnews