NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has launched a new national agricultural intelligence system powered by satellite imagery and artificial intelligence, marking a major shift toward data-driven farming and food security planning.
The Crop Measurement and Evaluation (CroME) Initiative was unveiled at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) headquarters in Nairobi on February 10–11, 2026.
The programme aims to generate reliable, real-time agricultural data to guide farmers, insurers, agribusinesses, and policymakers.
Led by the Kenya Space Agency in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Microsoft AI for Good Lab and NASA Harvest, the initiative will use Earth observation technology and AI-driven geospatial models to map cropland, monitor crop growth, define field boundaries and forecast yields.
CroME will also support early warning systems during disasters and detect crop damage, strengthening national responses to droughts and floods.
Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, said the project positions Kenya at the forefront of digital agriculture on the continent.
“By using advanced Earth observation data and AI-driven geospatial models, Kenya will produce cropland maps, identify crop types, define field boundaries, and forecast yields to support farmers, agribusinesses, insurers, and government agencies in making better decisions,” Thigo said.
Chairman of the Kenya Space Agency Board, Maj Gen (Rtd) Amb. Joff Otieno Makowenga said space data and artificial intelligence are critical to the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), particularly in agriculture.
He noted that timely and accurate geospatial information improves planning, enhances transparency in subsidy programmes, and strengthens resilience against climate shocks.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing significantly to GDP and employing a majority of rural households. However, the sector faces recurring challenges, including climate variability, pests, market volatility, and data gaps that hinder targeted interventions.
CroME builds on existing collaborations with NASA Harvest, Microsoft AI for Good, and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD).
Officials said the initiative will improve disaster risk management and strengthen national food security strategies by providing standardized, verified agricultural datasets.
The use of satellite imagery is expected to reduce reliance on manual surveys, which are often costly and delayed.
With AI-enabled analysis, the government can monitor crop performance at scale and detect stress factors earlier.
As climate change intensifies pressure on food systems across the Horn of Africa, CroME signals Kenya’s intent to anchor agricultural planning in science, technology, and real-time intelligence.
