DevGlobal

DevGlobal is on the road – first up, Seamus Geraty attended SatCamp Boulder this year. Read his reflections, which cover embeddings, foundational models, and why better UI and fine-tuning matter for last-mile use. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/dnCnPtdS 

Are you working on health data systems in Niger State? Submit your proposal to The Umbrella Fund | Geospatial Interventions latest funding opportunity. Applications close on Friday.

How might we restore soils, protect wildlife, and strengthen food security as one system? Across Africa and beyond, growing nutrition security needs and threatened biodiversity are interdependent and often present trade-offs. But those trade-offs aren’t inevitable. Explore two recent DevGlobal pieces on what systems-level collaboration can look like in practice: 1️⃣ Senior Advisors David Gadsden and David Bergvinson - BeSustainable_io in conversation on soil as the foundation linking food security and biodiversity: https://lnkd.in/dSZMj9Wc 2️⃣ An in-depth look from David Bergvinson at how regenerative practices, geospatial insights, and farmer-led innovation can reinforce both people and planet: https://lnkd.in/gMUbmsRE We’re continuing these conversations this week at the Mercy Corps AgriFin ALE 2025 in Nairobi and later this year at World Agri-Tech Forum. If you’ll be at either, we’d love to connect and exchange ideas on bridging #agriculture, #conservation, and technology for a more resilient future.

New blog on the DevGlobal site, “Turning convenings into communities”. We share a before, during, and after approach that turns a single event into a durable network, with examples from NASA Lifelines, AGX, PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator APAC, GeoField, and Geopalooza.  Read the post here https://lnkd.in/gDKCQkG6 

Are we measuring what really matters in rainwater harvesting? While RWH has expanded across Sub-Saharan Africa, most evaluations still focus on short-term crop gains, missing the bigger picture. Our partners at GeoField explore how Earth observation can help assess long-term resilience and guide smarter climate adaptation. A worthwhile read for anyone working in sustainable water, agriculture, or climate:

We're looking forward to Mercy Corps AgriFin 9th AgriFin Learning Event (#ALE2025) where we'll join DevGlobal and other partners exploring emerging technologies in African agricultural systems. 📅 14 Oct 2025 | 📍 Radisson Blu, Nairobi A highlight of the event will be Emmanuel Makau's session on "𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗦𝗠𝗘𝘀", examining how #AI and digital innovations can strengthen agricultural value chains across the continent. AGX AI [https://lnkd.in/dDsvEEsa] will also be exhibiting at the event, showcasing approaches to digital public infrastructure in agriculture that connects with our recent work, including our contribution to the discussion papers on localized agricultural models [https://lnkd.in/dWGHhwMR]. Recent data shows AI-related agricultural deals have increased from 9% to 15% (AgBASE, INc., 2024). As these technologies gain momentum, insights from diverse African farming contexts become increasingly valuable for effective implementation. Registration is still open for those interested in attending: https://lnkd.in/dyVBKy-v #DigitalAgriculture #AIinAgriculture #AgTech #EmergingTech Ridwan Sorunke Matt Manning David Bergvinson - BeSustainable_io David Gadsden

How we feed a growing population while protecting the ecosystems that make #agriculture possible? In this new white paper, “Interdependent Futures: Aligning Conservation, Agriculture, and Technology for Resilient Systems,” DevGlobal Senior Advisor David Bergvinson - BeSustainable_io explores how we can approach #conservation and food & nutritional security needs together. Read the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gMUbmsRE Bringing historical approaches and present-day case studies to this nexus, the paper explores how:  1️⃣ Regenerative farming practices restore degraded soils while improving yields.  2️⃣ Geospatial tools and AI can guide smarter, more precise land-use decisions.  3️⃣ Farmer-led models like Living Labs make solutions practical and lasting. If you’re also working at this intersection, we’d love to hear from you. How have you seen these interdependent futures interact?