Artificial intelligence and smart farming technologies are helping African innovators tackle critical challenges in healthcare and agriculture, with women researchers in Uganda and Rwanda developing solutions tailored to local needs.
The innovations, which were showcased during an Africa Science Dialogue webinar, are improving disease diagnosis and helping farmers manage crops more efficiently through digital tools.
In Uganda, Dr Rose Nakasi, a researcher at the Makerere AI Health Lab and lecturer at Makerere University, is leading the development of an AI-powered diagnostic system designed to improve the detection of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and cervical cancer.
Dr Nakasi said inadequate access to reliable diagnostic services remained a major challenge in the fight against diseases, particularly in health facilities with limited laboratory expertise.
“One of the key contributors to some of increased severity of this burden is that we lack simple, rapid, accessible and accurate diagnostics,” she said.
She explained that inaccurate diagnosis could result in patients receiving inappropriate treatment and care.
“If a disease is not accurately diagnosed, you are not going to get the right treatment, you are not going to get the right care,” she added.
The technology developed by her team combines a microscope, smartphone and artificial intelligence to analyse patient samples and identify disease-causing pathogens.
A 3D-printable adapter connects a smartphone to a microscope, allowing images of samples to be captured and processed by AI models trained to detect specific diseases.
The technology has recorded encouraging results, with the malaria diagnostic model achieving 92 per cent specificity, while the cervical cancer model has recorded more than 94 per cent accuracy.
The innovation has also moved beyond research, with more than 35 health facilities in Uganda adopting the technology.
About 150 laboratory technicians and 10 pathologists have been trained to use the system, strengthening the capacity of health facilities to conduct diagnostic tests.
In Rwanda, agroforester and innovator Ms Clémence Uwamutarambirwa is applying smart technology to address challenges in potato production.
Her Smart Potato Greenhouse Technology uses sensors, cloud-based analytics and a mobile application to allow farmers and greenhouse managers to monitor production conditions remotely.
Sensors installed in greenhouse beds continuously collect information on temperature, humidity and soil moisture.
The data is transmitted to a cloud platform for analysis, while farmers receive updates and alerts on their mobile phones and can remotely manage irrigation.
The system also incorporates hydroponic production, allowing potatoes to be grown in nutrient-rich water rather than conventional soil.
Ms Uwamutarambirwa said the soil-less method could increase potato seed production, conserve water and protect crops from soil-borne diseases.
The two innovations demonstrate the growing application of emerging technologies to address specific challenges within African communities.
Dr Margaret Karembu, Director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter and Chair of Africa Women for Biosciences (AWfB), said greater support was needed to increase women’s participation in science, technology and innovation.
She stressed that advancing women’s participation in science and technology should not be regarded as a responsibility for women alone.
“The support of men as colleagues, supervisors, mentors, partners, institutional leaders and policymakers is critical,” Dr Karembu said.
She called for stronger professional networks and expanded opportunities for women pursuing careers in science, technology and innovation, including those without formal training in biosciences.
The webinar attracted more than 50 participants, including early-career scientists, agricultural researchers, policymakers, farmers, journalists, academics and representatives of industry.
