Citizen Planet: AI-powered early warning system helps protect Lake Victoria communities

For nearly four decades, climate shocks have battered food systems worldwide, contributing to a 21 percent decline in agricultural productivity, according to the United Nations. In Kenya, recurring fish deaths in Lake Victoria over the past five years have cost an estimated two billion shillings, threatening food security and the livelihoods of lakeside communities. But an early warning system piloted by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute is offering hope, alerting fishing communities to impending threats and advising them on how to respond. Laura Otieno reports on how artificial intelligence and hydrological monitoring are transforming the blue economy and helping safeguard Kenya’s food basket.