Shahed Al-khateeb

Instructor, Yarmouk University and Founder of World of Plant

Food insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa region is a growing challenge. Even before the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, UN agencies estimated that the region had more than 55 million malnourished people out of a population of 456.7 million. According to an article by Ferid Belhaj and Ayat Soliman, the region’s share of the world’s total acutely food-insecure population in 2020 was 20%, which is very high considering that the region makes up only 6% of the world’s population. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines food security as “providing food to all members of society in the quantity and quality necessary to meet their needs on an ongoing basis, for a healthy and active life.”  There are 4 pillars of food security: The first pillar, food availability, means the presence of sufficient and continuous quantities of food of appropriate quality. The second pillar is access to food, which means obtaining that food in sustainable ways that do not conflict with human rights and having sufficient income to provide adequate food. The third pillar is utilization, which means all processes associated with the use of these foods, such as storage, care, transportation, cooking, and manufacturing, food diversity, and includes all the required nutritional elements. The fourth pillar is stability, which means the necessity of providing sufficient food at all times so that food is not interrupted or its quantities decrease in emergencies such as wars, political unrest, or natural disasters. The influx of Syrian refugees, a decline in remittances, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to challenges in access to food in Jordan, affecting the well-being of the population. Food security is compromised when people do not have access to nutritionally adequate and safe food. 

The Arab region was not on the right path to achieve the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have exacerbated the situation by creating disruptions in supply chains and increasing the prices of grains, fertilizers, and energy. Given that the region relies heavily on imported foods to meet its food security requirements, these two crises have affected Arab countries more than other countries, exacerbating the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition in the region. In addition to these global events, other factors such as climate change, conflict, and structural issues such as poverty and inequality increase the burden of achieving food security and improving nutrition in the region. Therefore, the UN partners concluded that the Arab region is unlikely to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 of zero hunger by 2030. However, the region can regain its ancient leadership role in agricultural innovation by investing in the latest practices and technologies that take into account changing climate conditions, such as hydroponics, conservation farming methods, and the safe use of treated water. Jordan ranked 63rd out of 181 countries according to the 2022 Government Readiness for AI Index, improving its position compared to 2021, when it ranked 80th out of 161 countries. Oxford Insights is a British organization that aims to “help global governments benefit from the latest innovations in technology and leadership.” The Government AI Readiness Index, published annually by Oxford Insights, ranks countries according to their readiness to adopt AI in public services based on 39 indicators across three pillars: government, technology, data, and infrastructure sector. According to analysts, the country's upward progress from 38.26 points to 67.54 points in the government pillar is due to the recent publication of the AI strategy and implementation roadmap for Jordan (2023–2027). In 2022, UNIDO provided technical assistance to help develop the country's five-year implementation plan based on 68 projects. This effort has strengthened Jordan's position as an upper middle-income country by prioritizing AI-powered transformation to accelerate economic development. Jordan’s AI Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023 - 2027 outlines several initiatives to accelerate the deployment of AI in the fields of energy, water, and agriculture. By investing in capacity building, acquiring local knowledge, and enhancing scientific research in the fields of AI and food security, Jordan will work towards achieving its goals of self-sufficiency and food security. Experts stress the importance of strategies for adopting AI and also stress the need for a solid communications infrastructure and digital skills among the workforce. Jordan's food security problem is intricate and multidimensional, going beyond only agricultural output. Government agencies, business groups, civil society organizations, and international organizations must work together. Jordan is dedicated to accomplishing several food security-related sustainable development goals, most notably through the National Food Security Strategy 2021 - 2030 (NFSS), which tracks advancement toward these objectives. Jordan's agricultural industry confronts several obstacles as a result of drought spreading, water shortages, rising food demand, and climate change. Water shortage hinders production, particularly because several essential resources, like wheat and sugar, require about 2 million dunams to reach self-sufficiency. Effective food security measures need coordination throughout ministries, and it is suggested that a single body be established to simplify planning and goals. While food waste management continues to be an issue for the agriculture industry, research organizations in Jordan are actively working to produce plants and seeds resistant to climate change. 

In 2022, Jordan announced the launch of its National AI strategy,  embarking on a transformative journey. This strategic initiative reflects a comprehensive approach developed in collaboration with stakeholders from the public, private sector, and academia. The strategy outlines a 5-year implementation plan comprising 68 carefully selected projects, with a vision to cultivate and enhance Jordan's AI ecosystem. 

Jordan’s AI Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023 - 2027 is based on five strategic pillars that lay the foundation for the country's AI-based future. It includes a strong focus on capacity building and skills development in the field of AI. This is complemented by a focus on encouraging scientific research and development related to AI, enhancing an environment for investment and entrepreneurship, and supporting the legislative and regulatory framework for the safe adoption of AI technologies. In the area of food security, the application of AI in Jordan takes a multi-faceted approach. A group of initiatives in the field of AI has been implemented in Jordan in several major sectors. One such example is the use of AI in the water sector through an early detection system for water waste to improve resource management. Another promising application of AI is the use of AI in agricultural technology through the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to classify soil fertility. In addition, establishing an early warning system for agricultural producers of agricultural hazards. 

The adoption of digital solutions by the Ministry of Agriculture reflects the Ministry's vision of achieving the development and digital transformation of the agricultural sector and offering a simple and flexible experience for merchants. This includes plant licensing services and delivery permits for agricultural pesticides, which streamline and expedite the processes of obtaining the necessary approvals and permits for merchants in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, a system for electronic payments has been put in place to make payments for the fees connected to delivery permits and plant licenses easier. It saves time and effort to avoid standing in manual payment queues in addition to allowing fees to be paid securely and conveniently online. The “With Farmers” application was launched in partnership with the National Agricultural Research Center and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This platform serves as the first technological program to help farmers and raise agricultural knowledge in all areas of society. The “With Farmers” app offers a wealth of agricultural knowledge. Among its benefits are that the application provides insightful analysis of weather forecasts, strengthens the ecosystem for knowledge sharing and assistance to farmers in general, and promotes sustainable agriculture. 

AI solutions have also been used by the private sector in Jordan, especially in the areas of food and agricultural security. The Palm Protect project is one prominent example of how AI can be used to analyze sound and identify palm pests, such as the red palm weevil, early on. Similarly, the Phytobase smart irrigation system is an interesting concept that uses electrical devices to monitor water levels in hydroponic systems, control irrigation operations, and evaluate variables such as salt and acidity levels. Farmers in the private sector have also used GPT chat services as a source of knowledge and support.

Academics in agriculture and food security emphasized the need to apply AI technologies to improve the effective management of water and agricultural resources. AI-powered systems can properly plan and forecast based on existing facts. Using AI technologies, Jordan's agriculture industry may reach self-sufficiency. AI may be used to evaluate satellite picture data, identify crucial places in agricultural fields, and pinpoint areas that require further care and attention. AI can be used to analyze local and regional weather data to improve forecasts, assist farmers in making appropriate planting decisions, manage risks, and provide recommendations on which crops are best suited for planting in each region, as well as when to plant crops and estimate potential production. 

Challenges that hinder the application of AI in the field of food processing in Jordan:

• Weak technology infrastructure, such as internet networks for farmers and Internet of Things devices that are connected to AI systems. Commercial sensors and technologies now on the market provide inaccurate information. For example, sensors designed to measure agricultural soil temperature and moisture give inaccurate measurements that cannot be completely relied upon.

• One difficulty outlined in Jordan's AI Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023 - 2027 is the limited availability of data linked to emerging technology. Creating a thorough, multi-year workforce development strategy that can offer a strong basis for effective AI integration is required to overcome this obstacle. 

• Jordan's AI Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023 - 2027 also highlights the lack of available data, which is compounded by the challenges of gathering, processing, and storing data. Indeed,  gathering agricultural data is a continuous problem. 

• Jordan's high tax, fee, and operational cost burdens for both established and startup businesses make it extremely difficult for them to expand and thrive. High upfront expenditures make it difficult to use AI, which inhibits businesses with low funding. As a result, they are unable to implement AI solutions that could improve productivity, creativity, and efficiency. The price burden may disproportionately impact small enterprises or startups in emerging nations, resulting in a digital gap between those who can and cannot afford AI.

• Concerns about cybersecurity standards, data protection, and privacy issues (fears about not following AI ethics).  According to Jordan’s National Ethics Charter for AI, AI is defined as "the use of digital technology to create systems which are capable of performing tasks which stimulate human capabilities, mimic their actions, analyze the surrounding environment, and learn from errors over time."  Eight ethical guidelines are included in the AI Charter to guarantee the trustworthy and ethical application of AI. One of the tenets, “Humanity and Society,” forbids any deception or manipulation brought about by AI technology. Its connection to the idea of food security is that it guards against manipulating the results provided by decision support systems based on user data to prevent farmers from receiving wrong instructions about which crops and causing harm to them. "Inclusiveness and Justice" is the second ethical principle, which calls on the participants in the AI community to simply and affordably make AI technology available to everyone. Additionally, marginalized and underprivileged groups of individuals are included. where all farmers have more affordable access to and efficient use of AI tools. The Third Principle: "Privacy and Data" calls for the processing and legitimate acquisition of input data utilized in AI development.  Additionally, this third principle includes the need for the data subject's consent whenever personal data is collected or processed. Farmers here have the right to accept or reject the privacy policy, and the policies related to privacy and data are public and not hidden. 

• The agricultural food industry in Jordan needs to take advantage of AI techniques to achieve the maximum benefit from modern technologies to reduce production, monitoring, and manufacturing costs, relying on AI so that blockchain can be used with AI to prevent falsification of production and expire date for various agricultural products and preservation on information, AI can also be used to reduce food waste by providing recommendations to farmers regarding the most appropriate crops that should be grown so that food is not produced in excess, which exposes it to waste and spoilage.

• There is a need to develop the technical skills and raise awareness among farmers in terms of using AI technology techniques and their usefulness, so that they do not have fears about adopting modern solutions. Some farmers have a belief that adopting AI solutions will increase costs and give them incorrect results. The solution is to raise awareness of the importance of AI and its ability to achieve food security and spread technology.