AI for Good Foundation and Syngenta: Help the World Grow More Food with Less Land

Boston, MA, February 1, 2017 (Newswire.com) - ​​​The AI for Good Foundation and Syngenta present: The Syngenta AI Challenge for Sustainable Food Production

Using Syngenta’s unique real-world dataset, available to researchers for the first time, the AI Challenge invites participants to develop models that enable crop scientists to efficiently analyze vast amounts of seed, genetic, climate, soil, and experimental data that could lead to improvements in the world’s ability to grow more food with less land.

"We need to find more ways in which Artificial Intelligence can be harnessed to solve our world's biggest problems. Food Security is a real issue, and we hope this will be one of many steps that can be taken to achieve positive progress. We are happy to have found a partner like Syngenta, both for their commitment to the research community, and their understanding of the importance of their role."

James Hodson, CEO, AI for Good Foundation

Why are such improvements needed? In 1930, a hectare of land could feed 2 people. In order to feed everyone on the planet by 2050, that same hectare of land will need to feed 5. A shift in agricultural production is vital. Such a shift might be possible with the help of Artificial Intelligence and improvements in agricultural data collection, as demonstrated through the AI Challenge.

"We need to find more ways in which Artificial Intelligence can be harnessed to solve our world's biggest problems. Food Security is a real issue, and we hope this will be one of many steps that can be taken to achieve positive progress," said James Hodson, CEO of the AI for Good Foundation. "We are happy to have found a partner like Syngenta, both for their commitment to the research community, and their understanding of the importance of their role."

The AI Challenge will run through June 1st, 2017. Finalists will be invited to present their models at a global conference in the fall of 2017. The first place winner will receive $7,500; second and third place winners will receive $5,000 and $1,000, respectively.

To enter, participants must register at IdeaConnection. Anyone 18 years of age or older can participate in the AI Challenge, subject to the competition’s terms and conditions.

About the AI for Good Foundation

The AI for Good Foundation is a 501(c)3 Public Charity whose aim is to provide the tools, transparency, engagement, vision, and education necessary for Artificial Intelligence technologies to thrive within human societies, both now, and in the future. To learn more about the Artificial Intelligence for Good Foundation, visit ai4good.org.

About Syngenta

Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through world class science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaUS.

​Contact:
James Hodson
Phone: 609.521.8034
Email: hodson@ai4good.org

Source: AI for Good Foundation

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