AEtheREAL is a youth-led initiative that leverages artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to improve the monitoring of crop health in regions experiencing high crop yield volatility. This improved crop coverage data enables earlier detection of vulnerabilities related to drought and climate variability, specifically in high-value agricultural regions such as California’s Central Valley.
The organization was born out of a profound experience at UNGA 80 Week. During events on climate resilience, food security, and role of emerging technologies in sustainable development, founder Alexander Liu recognized a critical gap between global policy conversations and on-the-ground agricultural realities. Key takeaways included the urgency of protecting food systems under climate stress, underutilization of satellite and AI technologies in small-to-medium-scale farming contexts, and need for youth-driven innovation.
AEtheREAL is designed as a collaborative platform where youth play an active role in research, model development, and outreach. Through engagement with organizations such as Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), youth collaborators can gain exposure to space applications for sustainability while co-designing solutions alongside industry experts.
Road to activation include key steps: 1. Identify areas of high crop yield vulnerability 2. Contact organizations in these areas with established relations to farmers 3. Make satellite data accessible to farmers.
