INTEGRATING AI TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION OF TROPICAL SOILS AND FOOD PRODUCTION

Abstract Soil is increasingly solicited for multiple crops to achieve food self-sufficiency; as such, it’s directly impacted by the growing human population's demand for increased agricultural production and crop yields. Thus, unsustainable practices such as intensive cropping, excessive fertilizer use, organic matter (OM) mismanagement, and depletion of organic carbon (OC) from agricultural soil have negatively impacted soil health, leading to soil degradation. This paper explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in rehabilitating degraded soils, AI-integrated agricultural practices that support sustainable soil and food production, and barriers to adopting AI-based soil restoration strategies, particularly among smallholder farmers. Furthermore, the study emphasized the critical need for smallholder farmers to be trained to improve their digital literacy and capacity to use AI-enabled advisory platforms. The need for policymakers to collaborate with telecommunication companies in enhancing mobile network coverage in rural areas, and for the government to address the challenge of limited access to AI tools by introducing grants and financing schemes to enable farmers to purchase essential AI-enabled devices at a lower cost. Addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in adopting AI-technologies fosters the restoration of degraded soils, improving food production within the tropical regions. Keywords: Artificial intelligence, sustainable restoration, food production