Heritable Agriculture Inc., an AI-driven crop improvement company originating from Google X, has secured a $4.98 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops for smallholder farmers in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The funding will support the Joint AI-driven Smallholder Omics aNalytics (JASON) project, which combines artificial intelligence with advanced genomics and remote sensing technologies to identify crop traits that improve tolerance to drought, heat, and other climate stresses.
The initiative aims to create practical tools that quickly pinpoint climate-adapted germplasm and high-confidence gene targets, dramatically shortening the time from research to deployable crop varieties. By doing so, Heritable seeks to help smallholder farmers maintain productivity in regions increasingly affected by extreme weather events.
Urgency for climate-resilient crops
Smallholder farmers in LMICs contribute up to 80% of locally consumed food, yet most rely on rain-fed agriculture and have limited access to irrigation, improved seed, or crop insurance. Rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are pushing traditional crop varieties beyond their limits, causing yield losses, household food insecurity, and financial stress.
“Drought can wipe out an entire season’s harvest, while heat reduces yields and increases vulnerability to pests and diseases,” explains Tim Beissinger, Chief Technology Officer at Heritable Agriculture. “Accelerating the development of resilient crops is no longer optional — it’s a necessity for the millions of farmers already experiencing climate shocks.”
AI meets genomics
The JASON project leverages artificial intelligence to analyze vast datasets of both ancient and modern crop genomes. By integrating genomic data with environmental and remote sensing information, the AI platform can predict which genes and alleles are most likely to confer tolerance to drought, heat, and other stresses.
A cloud-based genomics engine will allow Heritable to mine this data at scale, turning raw sequence information into actionable insights. These insights can then feed directly into breeding and gene-editing programs, significantly shortening the timeline from discovery to farmer-ready crop varieties.
“This project demonstrates how AI, combined with genomics and remote sensing, can create meaningful impact for smallholder farmers,” said Brad Zamft, CEO of Heritable Agriculture. “It’s a solution designed to improve livelihoods, stabilize yields, and protect communities from climate-related losses.”
From innovation to impact
The JASON project reflects a broader trend of using digital tools to overcome traditional constraints in crop breeding, especially in regions where long breeding cycles are impractical. By focusing on traits that matter most to smallholder farmers, the initiative aims to deliver tangible benefits: stable yields, resilient incomes, and improved food security.
Key components of the project include:
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AI genomics engine: Cloud-based platform to analyze ancient and modern crop genomes at scale.
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Accelerated breeding: Predicting functional alleles and integrating gene-editing designs to reduce the time from discovery to deployment.
With climate pressures rising across Africa, AI-driven approaches like JASON could play a critical role in safeguarding the future of food production, helping smallholder farmers adapt to changing conditions while building more resilient livelihoods.