2:26 am - February 14, 2026
Launched on 11 August 2025, My FarmWell is a bilingual mobile app built by the University of Sharjah with pro bono support from IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator, combining IBM’s Environmental Intelligence Suite, cloud hosting and a Welly chatbot to deliver location‑specific forecasts, well‑level monitoring, a water‑quality index, crop recommendations and market feeds. The partners say the tool can help farmers in the Near East and North Africa make daily irrigation and cropping decisions, but experts warn that sensors, connectivity, data governance and long‑term funding will determine whether it scales beyond pilots.
Honestly, researchers in the United Arab Emirates have rolled out a mobile app they say will help farmers in water-stressed parts of the Middle East and North Africa manage scarce resources more efficiently—a practical step toward climate-smart agriculture in one of the world’s most water-constrained regions.
The University of Sharjah announced on 11 August 2025 that My FarmWell was developed in collaboration with IBM through the company’s Sustainability Accelerator. The bilingual app combines IBM’s Environmental Intelligence Suite and cloud services with university-built features, including a conversational assistant dubbed the Welly chatbot, to deliver location‑specific weather forecasts, well‑level monitoring, water‑quality guidance, crop recommendations and market price updates. The university said the platform is intended to give farmers straightforward, actionable advice—from whether to irrigate today to which crops are suitable given local groundwater quality.
“My FarmWell equips farmers with essential insights for smarter water use and long‑term sustainability. It’s a tool that can significantly improve the resilience of farming communities in arid regions,” Dr Adewale Giwa, principal investigator of the project, said in the University of Sharjah’s statement. This approach—well, at least to me—also underscores a robust stride for the institution’s applied research mission, according to Professor Esam Agamy, the university’s chancellor, who described the launch as “a milestone.”
IBM’s regional office framed the work as an example of how cloud and AI can be directed at local environmental risks. Shukri Eid, IBM’s General Manager for Gulf, Levant and Pakistan, said in the company announcement that the project “exemplifies how IBM’s technology can help organisations of all sizes navigate environmental risks.” IBM’s newsroom materials add that the Environmental Intelligence Suite supplies high‑resolution weather and geospatial analytics that underpin the app’s forecasts and alerts.
The technical architecture and the partnership model matter as much as the features. IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator is a pro bono programme that pairs technology, expertise and mentorship with selected non‑profits and public bodies to scale climate and development projects. IBM says the accelerator contributes cloud, analytics and technical support at no cost to partners, positioning My FarmWell as an outcome of that model of corporate‑academic collaboration.
The app’s emphasis on irrigation decisions is significant given the regional context. FAO data on the Near East and North Africa show that irrigated agriculture accounts for the overwhelming majority of freshwater withdrawals in many countries, with some states drawing more than 80–90% of renewable water for farming. The FAO has repeatedly warned that limited renewable water per capita and overexploited aquifers make efficient irrigation, crop choice and integrated water management essential to food security. The University of Sharjah and IBM framed My FarmWell as intended to address precisely these pressures by translating complex environmental data into daily decisions for farmers.
My FarmWell’s toolkit, as described by the partners, includes 24‑hour and ten‑day weather forecasts, historical groundwater trend visualisations, alerts on falling well levels, an integrated water‑quality index to guide crop selection, and a water‑use calculator for crops, trees and livestock. The Welly chatbot delivers guidance and local regulatory information in an accessible conversational format. The university’s materials say the app is hosted on IBM Cloud and includes market price feeds so farmers can align production choices with economic signals.
While the partnership’s technology stack is rigorous on paper, experts in water and rural development caution that digital tools are one piece of a larger puzzle. Successful adoption depends on reliable in‑field sensors or manual monitoring to supply accurate well‑level and water‑quality data, internet and mobile connectivity, farmer training and incentives for behaviour change, and supportive water governance. The university and IBM position the app as scalable and regionally relevant, but scaling from pilot users to broad rural uptake typically requires sustained extension services, funding for sensors or telemetry where needed, and alignment with national water and agricultural policies.
There are also questions of data governance and long‑term maintenance. The partners say the platform is hosted on IBM Cloud and leverages IBM analytics, which provides technical robustness; critics might still ask who owns or controls farmers’ data, how long cloud services will be maintained for free or at subsidised cost, and what contingency plans exist should commercial arrangements change. The University of Sharjah’s release and IBM’s materials do not elaborate on data‑sharing agreements or the financial model for long‑term operation beyond the accelerator’s initial support.
Nonetheless, the launch reflects a broader trend of applying weather, geospatial and AI tools to agriculture in water‑scarce regions. The partnership points to a pragmatic approach: combining corporate technical capacity with local research and farmer‑facing design. As Dr Giwa put it in the university announcement, the goal is to offer “practical tips on farming techniques and local regulations” alongside forecasts and monitoring so farmers can act on the data.
If My FarmWell is to fulfil that potential, the next steps will be critical: demonstrating measurable water savings and yield stability among users, securing long‑term funding or service arrangements, ensuring inclusive access for smallholders, and integrating the tool into wider water‑management and agricultural extension systems. The university and IBM present the app as a promising tool for local resilience; independent evaluation and close attention to the socio‑technical conditions on the ground will determine whether it becomes an enduring part of the region’s response to water scarcity.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://journalofcyberpolicy.com/scientists-launch-revolutionary-app-to-boost-sustainable-farming-in-water-scarce-regions/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/News/uos-and-IBM-launch-My-FarmWell-Mobile-App-to-Promote-Sustainable-Agriculture – The University of Sharjah news release describes the launch of My FarmWell, a mobile application developed with IBM through the IBM Sustainability Accelerator to support sustainable agriculture in water-stressed UAE and MENA regions. It explains app features: bilingual interface, IBM Environmental Intelligence-powered weather forecasts (24-hour and ten-day), well monitoring, historical groundwater trends, water quality indices, crop recommendations, water consumption calculator, educational resources, market price links, and a University-developed Welly chatbot. Quotes from university leaders and IBM emphasise collaboration, resilience, and practical benefit to farmers. The release provides download links and positions the project as scalable and regionally relevant for agriculture.
- https://mea.newsroom.ibm.com/uos-ibm-sustainable-agriculture – IBM’s Middle East and Africa newsroom announcement outlines the My FarmWell collaboration with University of Sharjah, developed under the IBM Sustainability Accelerator. It highlights IBM Environmental Intelligence and IBM Cloud integration, Welly Chatbot link, bilingual design and farmer-centric tools such as well-level monitoring, Integrated Water Quality Index-based crop guidance, farm water calculators, and weather analytics for 24-hour and ten-day forecasts. IBM quotes stress cloud and AI’s role in building resilience and lowering costs. The page includes app store download links, contextual information about the accelerator, and positions the initiative as proof of technology enabling local sustainability outcomes and community impact.
- https://www.einpresswire.com/article/838857042/scientists-launch-revolutionary-app-to-boost-sustainable-farming-in-water-scarce-regions – The EIN Presswire release reproduces the University of Sharjah announcement and details My FarmWell’s objectives, architecture and farmer-facing features. It notes IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite as the weather and geospatial engine, UoS Welly Chatbot for guidance, IBM Cloud hosting, bilingual interface, well monitoring, water-quality based crop recommendations, water-use calculators, educational content and market price feeds. Quotes from Dr Adewale Giwa, UoS leadership and IBM’s regional general manager emphasise sustainability, smarter water use and resilience. The piece frames the app as a practical, data-driven response to MENA water scarcity and food-security challenges. It includes media contact details and a legal disclaimer.
- https://www.ibm.com/impact/initiatives/ibm-sustainability-accelerator – IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator page explains a pro bono programme that provides technology, expertise and mentorship to nonprofits and governments addressing environmental challenges. The initiative supports projects in sustainable agriculture, water management, clean energy and resilient cities, offering IBM Cloud, watsonx, Environmental Intelligence and consulting resources no cost to selected organisations. It outlines application processes, cohort structure, partner support and examples of past engagements. The page emphasises global scale with local impact, technical capacity building, and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals, positioning the Accelerator as a pathway to scale technology-driven solutions for communities vulnerable to climate and economic stress.
- https://www.ibm.com/products/environmental-intelligence-suite – The IBM Environmental Intelligence Suite product page presents a cloud-based platform that combines weather, geospatial, emissions and IoT data to deliver climate and environmental analytics. It details APIs, dashboards, monitoring services, geospatial AI and developer tools for weather analytics, hazard alerts, greenhouse gas calculations and custom models. The suite supports integration via APIs and SDKs, provides high-resolution datasets, and enables climate risk insight and monitoring to inform asset protection and operational decision-making. The page highlights scalability, developer resources and enterprise integration options, and links to documentation, pricing and trial access for organisations exploring environmental intelligence solutions to accelerate climate resilience.
- https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/4680d28b-6b4c-4b82-a2de-0d356d3306be/content/cb1447en.html – The FAO report and statistics explain freshwater constraints in the Near East and North Africa, noting the region holds little of the world’s renewable water yet supports significant irrigated agriculture. FAO data indicate that in many countries agriculture uses the majority of renewable freshwater — with several nations withdrawing over 80–90% for agricultural purposes — underscoring irrigation’s dominant share. The document highlights limited renewable water per capita, overexploited groundwater, and the necessity for efficient irrigation, policy reforms and investment. It frames water management as central to regional food security and sustainable development, urging integrated approaches to preserve water resources now.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative was first published on 19 May 2025, with subsequent updates on 14 July 2025 and 11 August 2025. The 11 August 2025 publication is the most recent and includes the latest developments. The earlier versions are not flagged as recycled content. The 11 August 2025 publication is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The update includes new data and material, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes from Dr. Adewale Giwa and Prof. Esam Agamy are consistent across all versions, with no variations in wording. No earlier usage of these quotes was found, indicating they are original to this narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from reputable organisations: the University of Sharjah and IBM. Both have established public presences and legitimate websites, confirming the reliability of the source.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the My FarmWell app’s features and its development are consistent with information from reputable sources. The narrative includes specific details such as the app’s bilingual interface, integration with IBM’s Environmental Intelligence Suite, and collaboration with the University of Sharjah. These details are corroborated by other reputable outlets. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure is focused on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a corporate or official announcement.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with the most recent publication on 11 August 2025. It is based on a press release from reputable organisations, with consistent and original quotes. The claims are plausible and supported by other reputable sources, with no discrepancies or signs of disinformation.
