Wadhwani AI has received a $3.3 million grant from Google–a part of Google’s AI for the Global Goals challenge, aiming to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Global Goals. Wadhwani AI’s existing Cotton Ace app, which aids farmers in managing pests in cotton crops, will now be expanded to safeguard India’s staple food crops.

The Cotton Ace app currently allows farmers to upload pictures of pests, which are then analysed by AI to offer data-driven solutions for addressing crop damage. The app also provides real-time information on weather, farming techniques, and crop prices. This technology has already increased farmers’ profits by 20% and reduced pesticide expenses by 25%. With this new grant, Wadhwani AI intends to apply its AI-powered pest mitigation technology to staple crops like rice, wheat, and corn, aligning with the UN’s goal of zero hunger.

Wadhwani AI is among the 15 organisations globally chosen to receive support through Google.org’s $25 million philanthropy challenge. This challenge aims to facilitate projects that leverage AI to expedite progress toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The expansion of Wadhwani AI’s contributions to India’s agricultural knowledge systems is expected to bolster sustainable farming practices and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

Additionally, Wadhwani AI will develop two language model-based apps that incorporate verified sources, including agricultural research and government schemes. These apps will be integrated into PM Kisan chatbot and Kisan Call Centers, enhancing accessibility through features like text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and translation for Indian languages. This project ultimately aims to make valuable agricultural information accessible through voice commands in various Indian languages.

Annie Lewin, Senior Director of Global Advocacy and Head of Asia Pacific at Google, emphasised the importance of this grant, stating that it aligns with Google’s mission to support changemakers using technology to address significant global challenges.