September 6, 2018

Artificial Intelligence and Food Security

Date: Oct 4th, 2018

Location: HBKU Research Complex Multipurpose Room

Objective: How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) help Qatar attain food security

Introduction: The United Nations defines the four pillars of food security as availability, access, utilization and stability. In the context of Qatar, it is availability and stability that are of particular concern.  It is well known that Qatar imports over ninety percent of its food requirements. Thus Qatar needs to ensure that it has multiple sources from where food is acquired and has robust and redundant supply chain for  transporting food to the country. Furthermore, to ensure long term availability of food, Qatar must adopt modern technology to grow food within its borders. In this context, the appropriate choice of crops, crop rotation and water management are key drivers to increase indigenous food supply.  Another major issue of concern is climate change and its impact on the region. For example studies have shown that rainfall will become more scarce and that will have a deep impact in a region where water is already a flashpoint.

The aim of the workshop is to gather international experts who deal with different aspects of food security  and local stakeholders to understand how modern data-driven AI technology can be used to ensure availability and stability of food in Qatar. Are they some international best practices that Qatar needs to emulate and are some local know-how  in Qatar that the rest of the world should be made aware of ?

To register, click HERE.

 

Organizers:

  1.          Dr. Husam Baalousha, QEERI
  2.          Dr. Laoucine Kerbache, QF VP RDI's Office
  3.          Dr.  Mohamed Mokbel, QCRI
  4.          Dr. Sanjay Chawla, QCRI
  5.          Mr. Lokendra Chauhan, QCRI
  6.          Ms. Nabeeha Fatima, QCRI

 

EVENT AGENDA

08:30

Registration & Networking with Light Breakfast


09:00

Opening Remarks, Introductions and Inviting the Speakers

Dr. Richard Kennedy, QF RDI; Dr. Ahmed K Elmagarmid; Dr. Sanjay Chawla, QCRI


09:15

Overview of Food Security in Qatar

Masoud Al Marri, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Municipality and Environment


09:35

Water Resources Management Using Cyber Infrastructure & Computational Modeling

Prof. Venkatesh Merwade, Purdue University


10:30

Tea and Coffee break


10:45

Water Resources and Sustainability in Qatar

Dr. Husam Baalousha, QEERI


11:15

Demystifying Data Science

Dr. Seth Dobrin, Vice President and Chief Data Officer, IBM Analytics


11:45

Lunch break


01:00

Using Computer Vision to understand Food & monitor Agriculture

Dr. Ferda Ofli, QCRI


01:30

Smart Farming: A Case study from Taiwan

David Lin, IT specialist, Institute of Information Industry


02:00

Blockchain & Food Security

Prof. Tareq Al-Ansari, HBKU


02:30

Hassad’s role from the start of the blockade

Alnouby Salem Al Marri, Hassad Food Qatar


03:00

Tea and Coffee break


03:15 - 04:15

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Research Opportunities at the intersection of Food Security and Artificial Intelligence

CHAIR: Dr. Laoucine Kerbache, QF VP RDI

PANELISTS: 

  • Masoud Al Marri, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Municipality and Environment
  • Dr. Mohamed Mokbel, Chief Scientist and an expert in spatial data management, QCRI
  • Prof. Venkatesh Merwade, Civil Engineering, Purdue University
  • David Lin, IT specialist, Institute of Information Industry, Taiwan
  • Dr. Husam Baalousha, QEERI