Africa, facing the world’s most pressing climate challenges, is rapidly becoming a hotbed for innovative agricultural technologies. A recent grant has been awarded to kickstart the Joint AI-driven Smallholder Omics Analytics (JASON) project. This initiative aims to leverage AI, genomics, and remote sensing to identify climate-resilient germplasm and gene targets for crop enhancement.

Integrating AI with Genomics

Heritable Agriculture is set to develop a cloud-based “AI genomics engine” that will analyze both ancient and contemporary crop genomes. This tool is expected to significantly speed up the identification of traits that enable crops to endure harsh conditions, such as drought and extreme heat.

Tim Beissinger, CTO of Heritable Agriculture, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “This endeavor will establish a cloud-based AI genomics engine that will drastically accelerate our ability to discover and deploy climate-resilient germplasm.” He anticipates the platform will significantly shorten traditional breeding timelines by transforming raw genetic data into precise gene edit targets.

Why Africa is a Fertile Ground for AgTech

Smallholder and family-operated farms in many African nations generate a substantial portion of the food consumed domestically—often exceeding 80%. However, these farms are among the most susceptible to climate-related shocks. As Africa heats up faster than the global average and droughts become more frequent, traditional breeding methods struggle to adapt to the rapid pace of climate change.

Most smallholders rely on rain-fed methods, leaving them vulnerable to prolonged droughts, which can lead to crop failures and food insecurity. Extreme heat exacerbates plant stress and may trigger pest outbreaks, further diminishing yields. This cycle of climate-induced challenges results in economic hardship, increased debt, malnutrition, and displacement, affecting local economies.

Given this precarious backdrop, Africa has become a prime testing ground for technologies that can enhance product development cycles, minimize risk, and provide resilience more efficiently—particularly AI-driven crop improvement solutions.

Heritable’s CEO, Brad Zamft, noted the significance of the Gates Foundation’s investment, stating, “The JASON initiative embodies over a decade of dedicated efforts by our team to create an agricultural model that is beneficial globally while also being scalable.”

A Model for Climate-Smart Breeding

The JASON project will help Heritable:

• Establish a cloud-based AI genomics engine.
• Predict functional alleles utilizing multi-omics data.
• Integrate multiplex gene-editing designs directly into breeding initiatives.
• Shorten the timeframe from gene discovery to market-ready germplasm.

Given the accelerating severity of climate extremes, Heritable asserts that shortening these timelines is essential for ensuring food security in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Aiming for Global Change

Based in San Carlos, California, Heritable aims to apply advanced technology—spanning across AI, genomics, and remote sensing—to enhance crops globally. The JASON initiative positions the company as a critical player in the challenge to create a climate-resilient global food system, backed by one of the largest agricultural development funders in the world.