The future farmer may need to know as much about data as soil. As much about markets as machinery. As much about technology as crops. Agriculture is changing faster than agricultural education. Are we actually preparing the next generation for it?

AI will not replace farmers. But farmers who use AI may outperform those who do not. The real question is not “Will AI take over farming?” It is: who will learn to use it well enough to stay ahead?

AI may become one of the most powerful tools in agriculture. But farming still needs experience, judgment, and local knowledge. The future is not farmer vs. AI. It is farmer + AI.

Food prices keep rising. Consumers blame stores. Farmers blame input costs. Markets blame supply chains. Maybe the real lesson is this: Cheap food was never actually cheap. Someone somewhere was absorbing the cost.

Everyone is talking about AI in agriculture. But a farmer with poor internet, thin margins, and fragmented data has a different problem. The future of farming will not be decided by who has the smartest AI. It will be decided by who can actually use it.

What does the future of work in agriculture look like when AI can answer a farmer’s question in seconds? And what skills do we need to judge whether that answer deserves to be trusted? Today, I’m joining @precisionfield_’s PAIP Cohort 4 to discuss “Navigating the Future of Work in Agriculture with AI Emergence.” I’ll draw on my experience working with farmers and cooperatives in Rwanda, my research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and what I’m learning while developing AgiriteChat. We’ll explore how AI is changing agricultural tasks, where human judgment remains essential, and how young professionals can prepare for emerging opportunities. For me, this conversation starts with the farmer. A quick answer has value only when it fits the crop, the field, and the decision at hand. 📅 Today, Friday, October 23 ⏰ 4:00 PM WAT 🔗 LinkedIn: lnkd.in/p/deNyb7nh ▶️ YouTube: lnkd.in/eSnjSrdR

Everyone knows that we all need agriculture at least three times a day. ⠀ But how often do we think about the people who make those meals possible? ⠀ Two years ago, in 2024, I was in Rome, Italy 🇮🇹, attending the World Food Forum. ⠀ Today, on World Food Day, I look back at that experience with a question: ⠀ How can we turn our ideas, research, and global conversations into meaningful progress for farmers? ⠀ Joining agriculture has been an amazing experience for me. ⠀ It has opened doors, introduced me to people, and given me opportunities to contribute to something that touches every life. ⠀ Every day is an opportunity to learn. ⠀ From a farmer explaining a challenge. ⠀ From a young entrepreneur testing an idea. ⠀ From research that pushes me to ask better questions. ⠀ This journey continues to shape how I see agriculture and my responsibility within it. ⠀ I believe that advancing sustainable agricultural practices through innovation driven by youth, climate action, and digital integration will be key to addressing the critical issues that matter to farmers. ⠀ Making that vision practical requires listening. ⠀ Farmers need solutions that reflect their realities: changing weather, rising costs, limited resources, uncertain markets, and the pressure to sustain their livelihoods. ⠀ Technology should help them navigate those realities. ⠀ Sensors can support better irrigation decisions. ⠀ Digital platforms can connect producers with information and markets. ⠀ Artificial intelligence can help translate complex information into useful guidance. ⠀ But usefulness depends on context. ⠀ Can farmers afford the tool? ⠀ Can they understand its recommendations? ⠀ Does it work under local conditions? ⠀ Can they trust it enough to act? ⠀ These questions guide my interest in AI, farmer trust, and technology adoption. ⠀ Young people have a significant role in finding the answers. ⠀ Their creativity can strengthen how we produce, process, distribute, and communicate about food. ⠀ Turning that potential into lasting contributions requires access to skills, mentorship, finance, and opportunities to work directly with farming communities. ⠀ It also requires valuing the knowledge farmers already hold. ⠀ The most promising ideas can emerge when practical experience meets fresh thinking. ⠀ That is the kind of agricultural future I want to help build. ⠀ One where innovation supports livelihoods. ⠀ Where climate action is practical and accessible. ⠀ Where young people can build meaningful careers. ⠀ And where farmers help shape the technologies intended to serve them. ⠀ I am grateful for this journey and for every opportunity to keep learning, contributing, and growing alongside others. ⠀ Happy World Food Day!

This is how portable drying machines transform post-harvest practices.