[Funding alert] Wadhwani AI Secures $3.3 Mn Grant From Google.org

Google.org's AI for the Global Goals challenge granted Wadhwani AI USD 3.3 million to scale AI technology that advises cotton farmers on controlling pests to protect India's food staples through integrating it into the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's digital systems for nationwide reach.

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Shekar Sivasubramanian, CEO, Wadhwani AI, said, “We aim to boost efficiency and production in the Indian agricultural sector using AI. Our Cotton Ace app, supported by Google.org, has already increased farmers' profits by 20 per cent and reduced pesticide expenses by 25 per cent. This recent grant will help us expand our technology to safeguard staple crops like rice, wheat and corn, supporting the UN's goal of zero hunger."

Wadhwani AI will increase its impact on India's agricultural information systems through this project, which will also support sustainable farming methods and enhance the financial stability of farmers all over the nation, according to a statement.

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Annie Lewin, Senior Director of Global Advocacy and Head of Asia Pacific, Google.org said: “The AI for the Global Goals Impact Challenge is an important part of our commitment to supporting progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but also to our longstanding mission to supporting brilliant changemakers using technology to solve humanity's biggest challenges. This new grant to Wadhwani AI speaks directly to Google’s DNA, supporting the real-world application of the latest advancement in AI and technology to safeguard the sustenance of a whole nation.”

About Wadhwani AI

The Indian-American tech entrepreneurs Romesh Wadhwani and Sunil Wadhwani founded the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI), an independent nonprofit organisation.

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