Bioversity International scientist Jacob van Etten presents on Innovative approaches to disseminating Climate-smart agricultural practices and advisories. Find out more about what we do on climate change adaptation: http://www.bioversityinternational.org/research-portfolio/adaptation-to-climate-change/

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Big data and climate change:
Big words or big opportunity?
Innovative approaches to disseminating CSA practices and advisories
Jacob van Etten
Theme leader Climate Change Adaptation
9th
April 2014

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1. Big data, what is it?
2. Big words only?
3. What about CCAFS?

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Social data / crowdsourcing

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Bioinformatics

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Data journalism

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A movie passes the Bechdel Test if women that are named
have at least one conversation that is not about a man.

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Crowdsourcing

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In summary
• ICT generate more and more data
• Data are going social
• Big Data is about “repurposing” in many different ways
• Dumb force of big n obviates precision, long waits and big
$

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Big words only?

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Gartner’s hype cycle

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Where is Big Data on the curve?

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In summary
• Many caveats apply
• Big Data is on the Peak of Inflated Expectations
• There is a Plateau of Productivity ahead!

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What about CCAFS?

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Historical data

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Big data illusions

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Sensors

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Site-specific agriculture (CIAT)
+ + =
Climate Soil Crop management Productivity
% ? + % ? + % ? = To Explain (100 %)

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Citizen science

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Nifty statistics:
Bradley-Terry model with recursive partitioning

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4. Farmers
test and
report back
by mobile
phone
2. Each farmer gets a
different combination of
varieties
3. Environmental
data (GPS, sensors)
to assess
adaptation
1. A broad set of
varieties is
evaluated
6. Detect
demand for
new
varieties
and traits
5. Farmers receive tailored
variety recommendations and
can order seeds

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Crowdsourcing Monitoring and Evaluation?

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In conclusion…

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but some work is required to get it

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Big data session
Two micro-presentations
•Participatory modelling with historical crop data (Dieudonne
Harahagazwe, CIP)
•Big data to optimize agricultural systems through location-
specific advise (Daniel Jiménez, CIAT)
Group discussion

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Thank you!