PlantVillage Nuru 1.0

PlantVillage Nuru is a publicly supported and collaboratively developed application designed to assist farmers in diagnosing crop diseases in the field, even without internet access. This innovative tool, created at Penn State University, utilizes Google’s TensorFlow machine learning platform, combined with a comprehensive database of images curated by crop disease experts globally.

The development of this application is founded on substantial research that compares the diagnostic accuracy of machine learning models with that of human experts and extension workers. Ongoing research efforts ensure that the app remains up-to-date with the latest findings in crop health diagnostics. Furthermore, it incorporates a hybrid model wherein images can be analyzed both by artificial intelligence and human intelligence through a cloud-based system.

In collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, PlantVillage Nuru stands out as a public good. It is free from commercial interests or venture capital backing, ensuring that there are no advertisements and that user data is not sold to third parties. Should one wish to support this initiative, donations can be made at PlantVillage’s website.

Beyond its diagnostic capabilities, the app offers access to an extensive knowledge library, hosting the largest open-access repository of crop health information worldwide.