FUNAAB Hosts Conference on AI-Driven Regenerative Agriculture

News in brief:

-FUNAAB has opened the 2025 Humboldt Kolleg Scientific Conference, bringing global experts together to explore how AI and regenerative agriculture can drive sustainable food production, food safety, and environmental preservation.

-The three-day event reinforces FUNAAB’s role as Africa’s agricultural think tank, highlighting the need for policy, research, and investment to secure the continent’s food future.

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is hosting the 2025 Humboldt Kolleg Scientific Conference in Abeokuta. The three-day international gathering, which began on September 22, 2025, is themed “AI-Driven Approach to Regenerative Agriculture for Sustainable Food Production, Food Safety, and Environmental Preservation.”

This conference brings together researchers, policymakers, and industry experts to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be applied in regenerative agriculture to boost food systems, safeguard the environment, and drive Africa’s economic growth.

Declaring the event open, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi, described the conference as “timely,” reaffirming FUNAAB’s commitment to pioneering innovative agricultural research.

Key highlights included a keynote address by Prof. Jonathan Atungwu, Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, who urged governments and investors to adopt regenerative systems, expand training, and provide credit access for farmers. Prof. Simeon Cadmus of the University of Ibadan also presented a special paper linking climate change to the rise of emerging diseases in Africa, calling for proactive interventions.

Who It Concerns

The conference is particularly relevant to farmers, researchers, policymakers, students, and agribusiness investors.

• Farmers are central beneficiaries, as discussions on regenerative systems and AI tools aim to provide practical pathways for boosting yields, improving soil health, and ensuring food safety.
• Policymakers are urged to design enabling policies and funding frameworks to integrate AI in agriculture and strengthen climate resilience.
• Researchers and universities gain a platform for collaboration, reinforcing Africa’s role in shaping global innovation.
• Investors and agribusiness leaders are presented with opportunities to back bankable agricultural solutions driven by technology and sustainability.

What You Should Know

Despite Africa’s agricultural potential, AI investment in the continent remains just 0.3% compared to global powers like the US and China. According to Prof. Abayomi Owolabi, represented by Dr Fauziyah Adenekan, this disparity risks sidelining Africa in the future of food security and innovation — despite its youthful workforce and vast farmlands.

The Humboldt Kolleg Scientific Conference highlights that achieving food security requires not only research breakthroughs but also policy reforms, financing, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. By hosting this event, FUNAAB reinforces its reputation as Africa’s agricultural think tank and a global leader in innovative food security solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).