Paul Allen’s institute helps South Africa thwart locust swarms

A file picture taken near Isiolo town in Isiolo county, eastern Kenya, shows locust nymphs aggregated in shrubbery at a hatch site. Agri Eastern Cape, which represents farmers in the coastal province, started using the Allen Institute for AI’s Earth Ranger system in April to pinpoint where swarms will erupt in September and October, according to Kümm. — AFP

South Africa is bracing for a repeat of last season’s locust swarms, the worst in decades, and is banking on a tracking technology backed by the institute of Microsoft Corp’s late co-founder, Paul Allen, to tackle the infestation.

Agri Eastern Cape, which represents farmers in the coastal province, started using the Allen Institute for AI’s Earth Ranger system in April to pinpoint where swarms will erupt in September and October, according to Jason Kümm, manager of rural safety and communications, at the organisation.