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AI to Empower Farmers with Climate Insights
2 Nov
Summary
- A $600,000 grant will fund an AI platform for farmers.
- The tool uses climate, market, and outcome data for planning.
- Producers will co-design the platform through workshops.
Fair Trade USA is set to develop an AI-powered climate intelligence platform for farmers, thanks to a $600,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. This initiative, running from September 2026 to September 2027, aims to equip producers with actionable insights by integrating climate data, market signals, and outcome information.
The platform will combine Fair Trade USA's certification records and investment data with open-source climate information and producer-submitted details. This integration will provide decision-grade insights, such as seasonal climate outlooks and prioritized actions to protect producer landscapes and businesses. The tool builds upon a previous project, the Nature Intelligence Dashboard, which was implemented with Colombian coffee farmers.
Producers will be instrumental in co-designing the tool through workshops and follow-up visits with leaders from coffee, cocoa, and banana cooperatives in Peru, Côte d'Ivoire, and Colombia. Fair Trade USA will also establish clear guidelines for producer data ownership and consent. By September 2027, the goal is to reach at least 10 cooperatives, impacting approximately 3,000 farmers across various crops and languages.
