Harvest Group hails Kenya for its AI-driven approach to food security

Kenya is advancing rapidly as a continental leader in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle food security challenges and accelerate economic growth, reinforcing its role as a key player on the global stage.

This progress was highlighted during the Africa Food Show (ASF) 2025 — East Africa’s premier food and agriculture event hosted in Nairobi this month — which showcased the country’s emerging position as a nexus of innovation, sustainable growth, and regional connectivity.

According to Harvest Group, an international agri-commodity trader that officially launched in the Kenyan market in April, Kenya offers a rare combination of strategic location, regional connectivity, and progressive policy, positioning the country as an emerging hub for trade and logistics.

“At the core of its national AI strategy is the drive to apply cutting-edge technologies in critical sectors including in agriculture - using data-driven tools, predictive modelling, and AI-powered logistics to boost yields, enhance food security, and improve distribution across the continent,” said Almaz Alsenov, the founder of Harvest Group.  “The country’s AI strategy is fostering a fertile environment for collaboration and market growth, positioning Kenya as a hub for innovation in Africa.”

The 2024 'AI for Africa' report published by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) shows that agriculture and food security takes up 49 percent of all AI deployments in Kenya, followed by climate action and energy use cases at 26 percent and 24 percent.

The analysis revealed over 90 instances of AI deployment within Kenya’s agricultural systems. In these cases, Machine Learning (ML) was utilized to generate critical insights on crop patterns, pest and weed management, land use, and irrigation practices. Many of these AI-driven applications supported precision farming by improving yield predictions, enhancing crop monitoring, and optimizing resource use.

Moreover, AI and ML technologies played a significant role in automating labor-intensive tasks such as harvesting and weeding. By providing farmers with data-driven guidance, these tools enabled the adoption of efficient, climate-smart farming techniques that boosted productivity and sustainability.

According to the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), Kenya has seen several notable AI applications transforming its agricultural sector. For instance, PlantVillage Nuru is a mobile app that leverages TensorFlow machine learning to detect pests and diseases, and it has been adopted by over 10,000 farmers, helping increase their yields by up to 40 percent.

“UjuziKilimo’s SoilPal, a device that provides real-time soil analysis (nutrient content, moisture, pH), benefiting 30,000 farmers, with reported yield increases of over 40 per cent,” KIPPRA says on its website.

Another innovative initiative, the ThirdEye Project by Future Water, employs drone sensors to monitor crop stress, aiding 2,044 farmers in optimizing resource use and achieving yield improvements of 20 percent.

Beyond farming techniques, AI also plays a crucial role in strengthening market linkages. Platforms such as Esoko and Safaricom’s DigiFarm utilize AI technology to connect farmers directly with buyers, streamlining supply chains and reducing inefficiencies. These AI-enabled market platforms not only enhance farmers’ access to markets but also contribute to more reliable and efficient agricultural commerce across Kenya.

Amid global economic volatility, ongoing international conflicts, and the severe impacts of climate change, Kenya is seen as providing “a pathway to strengthen food security.”

With a global shift to diversify supply chains away from traditional production hubs such as China, Kenya’s strategic advantages are gaining fresh attention. It is attracting commodity traders who recognize “opportunities for efficiency, long‑term growth, and access to rapidly expanding regional markets,” Harvest Group noted.

Transport and logistics improvements complement technological advances. Kenya’s investment in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Nairobi Expressway has reduced inland transit times from the key Indian Ocean port of Mombasa to Nairobi to just five hours. The SGR ensures that the cargo can move quickly and safely to Nairobi and on to where it is needed, allowing it to be distributed to other countries.

This enhanced connectivity, combined with Kenya’s advanced mobile infrastructure — where mobile usage and electronic financial transactions are ubiquitous — forms a sophisticated logistics ecosystem.

Harvest Group’s recent establishment in Kenya underscores international investor confidence. Partnering with the UN World Food Programme, Harvest Group works to deliver grain to some of the world’s poorest countries to counter food insecurity. Their presence highlights “growing trust in Kenya as a global leader in distribution,” according to a press release by the company, which also noted that their investment “in ships and storage facilities brings jobs to local markets,” an opportunity aligned with Kenya’s “young and highly skilled workforce.”

With Europe’s markets showing signs of stagnation, global interest is pivoting toward Africa’s dynamic trajectory. Kenya “offers an exciting opportunity for tackling challenges like food insecurity,” the Harvest Group release stated. Its unique combination of infrastructure development and technological innovation allows commodity traders to “operate efficiently and react to changes in market dynamics.”