Australia and Vietnam develop AI crop maps

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A joint Australian–Vietnamese initiative has produced digital crop condition maps that apply satellite imagery, drone data, and artificial intelligence (AI) to assist smallholder farmers in Vietnam with monitoring crops and improving yields.

The two-year project, titled ‘Improving Crop Monitoring and Access to Information by Smallholder Farmers and Government Decision-Makers in Vietnam’, is supported by the Australian Government’s Aus4Innovation program, co-funded and managed by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, and delivered in partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology. It brings together the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC).

© University of Southern Queensland

The maps, designed for rice and fruit crops, are produced by combining satellite and drone imagery with AI. The tools provide a clearer view of crop health and potential yields. “We’ve shown that AI and satellite technology can be used to give farmers across Tay Ninh, An Giang, and Dong Thap provinces timely, accurate information about their crops,” said Dr Brian Collins, Senior Research Fellow at UniSQ and project leader.

Farmers will be able to access the data via mobile phones, helping them to plan harvests, manage resources, and respond to pests, droughts, and floods. “The real benefit is that this empowers farmers with confidence,” said Dr Collins. “With clearer information, they can manage their land more effectively and respond to challenges like pests, droughts, or floods.”

Dr Lam Dao Nguyen, project leader at VNSC, noted that the approach is intended not only for technological adoption but also to strengthen community resilience and assist government agencies. “This is about more than technology; it’s about empowering communities, strengthening resilience to climate change, and helping government agencies make better decisions for the future of agriculture,” he said.

The next phase of the project will make the crop maps available through a web platform and mobile application for farmers and extension officers. “We aim to build something that is inclusive, user-friendly, and genuinely helpful for the people who need it most,” Dr Collins added.

The project targets practical use of science in farming, with the aim of enabling smallholder farmers in the Mekong Delta to adapt to changing climate conditions and stabilise crop productivity.

For more information:
University of Southern Queensland
Tel: +61 7 4631 1856
Email: [email protected]
www.unisq.edu.au

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