Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines how frontier technologies—such as drones, the Internet of Things (IoT), and small-scale satellites—enable developing countries, particularly in Africa, to leapfrog traditional, costly infrastructure requirements in agriculture, healthcare, and environmental monitoring.

This research paper introduces the concept of development leapfrogging within the African context, exploring how the continent can bypass intermediate stages of industrial development by adopting advanced technologies in sectors such as energy, finance, and agriculture.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides a legislative side-by-side comparison of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) under current law and the House Agriculture Committee's amended text from May 2024. It details the program's goals of promoting agricultural production and environmental quality, its funding mechanisms, and proposed changes to payment structures and eligible practices, particularly regarding precision agriculture and climate resilience.

This briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the 'digital divide' in the United States, focusing on the disparities in broadband access between urban, rural, and tribal communities. It details the various technologies used for delivery, the socioeconomic and geographic barriers to expansion, and the critical role of high-speed internet in enabling energy efficiency, precision agriculture, and a transition to a clean energy economy. The document also reviews federal funding mechanisms and the efforts of municipal governments and electric cooperatives to bridge the gap.

This policy brief examines the 'digital divide' in the United States, specifically the lack of high-speed internet access in rural and tribal communities. It details the socioeconomic and educational impacts of this divide, the role of broadband in enabling energy-efficiency technologies and precision agriculture, and the various federal, municipal, and cooperative initiatives aimed at expanding access.

This fact sheet by GreenCape, produced in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, defines Smart Farming/Precision Agriculture (SF/PA) as the application of agtech and analytics to increase agricultural efficiency and yields compared to conventional methods. It outlines the benefits of the technology, the specific challenges facing adoption in South Africa, and the requirements for market growth.

This case study examines the economic and operational impact of adopting precision drone spraying for an 80-hectare smallholder sugarcane cooperative in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Comparing drone services to traditional tractor-mounted boom sprayers, the document details significant reductions in costs, chemical use, and labour, alongside increases in crop yield and sugar content.