Algerian startup Farm AI took second place in the Tech4Good competition organized by Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Farm AI is awarded for developing an early rust detection system using wheat field surveillance drones.
Contacted by TSA on Monday, January 9, Rania Hedna, student in networks and distributed systems, member of the Farm AI team, told the starting point of the winning project in the Huawei competition.
” As part of Huawei’s competition, a problem that affects society had to be solved through a technological process. We chose the problem of rust in agricultural fields “says the young student.
After thinking about robots, the Algerian team was faced with the problems of space in the wheat fields chosen as an example to develop the project, hence the use of drones, she adds.
Around the project, seven young talents aged between 19 and 23, including five students and two graduates.
They are: Ouassim Hamdani, student in artificial intelligence and data sciences, Mohamed Aymen Benkoua, student in cybersecurity, Abderrahmane Herizi, student in networks and telecommunications, Rania Hedna, student in networks and distributed systems, Riad Ziani, engineer in networks and telecommunications, Yahia Zarai, artificial intelligence student and Ahlam Boumezrag, network and telecommunications engineer.
The Farm AI team should soon experiment with its invention in the field with drones in Algeria, said staff member Rania Hedna.
“ Rust is not visible to the naked eye especially since in the fields, the farmer does not have enough space to control. When the drones detect rust, a notification is sent to the farmer whose phone is connected through an application to alert him to the existence of this disease so that he can intervene either by cutting the affected parts or by removing them. treating “, details Rania.
Success in the Huawei competition should open doors for Algerian startup Farm AI. On this subject, Rania Hedna explains that Farm AI was formed “ just four months ago “. ” We have not yet established a marketing plan “, continues the young student who highlights the difficulty of using drones in Algeria.
Farm AI congratulated by President Tebboune
The Farm AI startup was congratulated by the President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune for the second place obtained in the Huawei competition.
” To the young people of the Farm AI startup, I congratulate you on the second place in the world, among 12,000 participants, in a competition in China. I am proud of you, and this is the new Algeria we aspire to, and young people like you will achieve it “, tweeted the president.
For his part, the Minister Delegate for Startups, Yacine Oualid, also congratulated the Farm AI team on his official Facebook account. “ Once again, the name of Algeria is hoisted at the top at the international level which shows the enormous capacities of young talents wherever they are. Cheer ! You have our support “, he assured.
