AIM for Scale Launches Innovation Package to Provide Climate-Resilient Weather Forecasts for Farmers

Global Partners Mobilize Investments to Empower Farmers with AI-Powered Weather Forecasts to Tackle Climate Change and Food Security Challenges

At the COP29 World Leaders Climate Action Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Agriculture Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale) unveiled its first-ever Innovation Package, aimed at providing weather information to farmers to help them adapt to the increasingly unpredictable impacts of climate change. The launch of this groundbreaking initiative sets the stage for a series of future Innovation Packages that will scale solutions addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, food security, and agriculture.

The AIM for Scale Weather Package is a collaborative effort between AIM for Scale and the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security, and Agriculture. It aims to revolutionize weather forecasting by utilizing AI-driven technologies to help national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHS) create high-quality, farmer-centered weather forecasts. These forecasts will be co-produced and disseminated to millions of farmers, empowering them with the information they need to make informed decisions on farming practices, enhancing resilience, and adapting to shifting weather patterns exacerbated by climate change.

In the face of rising global food insecurity, this initiative is vital for strengthening food systems and building climate resilience, particularly in low-income countries. The launch is backed by a consortium of global partners committed to mobilizing significant investments over the next three years to implement the AIM for Scale Weather Package. Some key announcements include:

Asian Development Bank (ADB): As part of its portfolio to enhance food security in Asia and the Pacific, ADB will invest approximately $300 million in advanced weather forecasts tailored to farmers in the region from 2025 to 2027. ADB also announced a $600,000 technical assistance grant to facilitate this investment, aligning with ADB’s food security strategy under its updated Strategy 2030.

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB): IDB plans to integrate weather forecasts into $280 million in loans over the next three years, including $600,000 in grants to support AI-driven weather forecast initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is part of a broader strategy to enhance agricultural productivity in the region.

World Bank: Currently investing $1.46 billion in Data, Digital Agriculture, and Innovation projects, the World Bank’s investments align with the AIM for Scale Weather Package. In particular, about $591 million of this is allocated to Africa, supporting the development of climate-smart advisory systems, soil information systems, and early warning systems for millions of farmers across the continent.

USAID and NASA: Together with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), USAID and NASA announced a $6.6 million investment to expand the SERVIR program into Central America. SERVIR uses satellite data to enhance early warning systems for extreme weather, which will bolster the resilience of over 40 million people, including 11 million employed in agriculture.

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India: India plans to extend its successful initiative to deliver weather forecasts digitally to tens of millions of farmers, having already reached 9.45 million farmers in 2024.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Community Jameel: In collaboration with BRAC, MIT is scaling up the Jameel Observatory-CREWSnet initiative, which uses climate modeling and AI to assist 8 million smallholder farmers in Bangladesh who are vulnerable to climate change.

Additionally, the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and University of Chicago’s Human-Centered Weather Forecasts and AI for Climate (AICE) initiatives, alongside the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), launched a research and training program aimed at improving access to AI-driven, high-quality weather predictions in 30 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

In her remarks, Her Excellency Dr. Amna al Dahak, Minister for Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, welcomed the AIM for Scale initiative, saying, “This is a transformative step in empowering farmers with the tools they need to adapt to climate change. Our partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in launching AIM for Scale is accelerating our efforts to identify and scale climate-friendly agricultural innovations.”

Mariam Almheiri, Head of International Affairs at the UAE Presidential Court, emphasized the importance of international cooperation: "To drive food systems transformation and climate action, it’s crucial to coordinate investments and accelerate the scaling of innovations that can improve the livelihoods of farmers.”

Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, stated, “By filling gaps in weather data, AIM for Scale can significantly improve weather forecasting, climate information services, and early warning systems, helping vulnerable farmers adapt to climate variability and enhance resilience.”

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will continue to support the initiative with technical guidance on weather data management, forecasting, and agrometeorological services. Meanwhile, SOFF is committed to addressing data gaps in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) through long-term financial support and technical assistance.

At COP29, the launch of the AIM for Scale Weather Package marks a critical step forward in addressing the intersection of climate change, food security, and agriculture. By mobilizing investments and fostering partnerships across sectors and regions, this initiative aims to deliver transformative solutions that equip farmers with the tools to adapt to the unpredictable impacts of climate change, ultimately advancing global climate resilience and food security.

Nobel laureate Michael Kremer, Chair of the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security, and Agriculture, emphasized the need for targeted investments, saying, "AIM for Scale is a vital step toward addressing the challenge of delivering high-quality weather forecasts to the hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers who are the most vulnerable to climate change."

As the UAE continues to champion agricultural innovation, Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of WMO and Director General of the National Center of Meteorology (UAE), underscored the importance of accurate weather forecasts for supporting farmers in adapting to the changing climate. "Providing farmers with timely, farmer-centered weather forecasts is crucial to enhancing resilience and adaptation," he added.

Through the launch of the AIM for Scale Weather Package and the strong commitment from global partners, this initiative will help millions of farmers worldwide adapt to climate change and build a more sustainable, resilient future for agriculture.