May 27, 2026
University of Missouri and MU Extension Selected as Awardees in Taylor Geospatials’ Global Geospatial Innovation for Food Security (GIFS) Challenge
The University of Missouri and MU Extension have been named as awardees in the Geospatial Innovation for Food Security (GIFS) Challenge, a strategic initiative led by Taylor Geospatial to advance geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) for global agricultural stability.
The MU-led project focuses on a “water first” GeoAI model designed to transform how nutrient management decisions are made on the farm.
Launched by Taylor Geospatial, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) for global public benefit, the GIFS Challenge addresses a critical gap in technologies to address food insecurity.
While geospatial research is abundant, it often does not align with the problems those on the front lines actually face and stops short of providing usable tools. By combining high-resolution satellite imagery with advanced machine learning, the MU team is developing a tool that maps plant-available soil water at sub-field scales.
This granular approach allows agronomists and farmers to move beyond field-wide averages and make precise nitrogen application decisions based on actual water availability. The model aims to maximize crop yields while significantly reducing fertilizer waste and limiting environmental runoff.
The project represents a collaborative effort between Mizzou researchers and MU Extension practitioners, ensuring that the technology is informed by the needs of the end user from day one. Over the next 18 months, the team will move the model from proof-of-concept toward full operational deployment, supported by funding and expert guidance from Taylor Geospatial.
Additional awardees include:
- The United Nations World Food Programme, in partnership with the REACH Initiative, is advancing Afghanistan’s PULSE platform to track hazards affecting food access and supply routes, helping responders plan in environments where ground-level data is often incomplete. By integrating information and community feedback with GeoAI models, the system helps humanitarian teams anticipate crises and respond faster in high-risk environments, reducing the risk of hunger and malnutrition escalating into famine-like conditions.
- A collaboration between Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis — alongside partners NASA Harvest and FEWS NET — is developing a GeoAI capability to identify early signals of instability in crop production. The open-source tool will be tested in active conflict regions, including Sudan, Ukraine, Syria, and Haiti; however, like AF-PULSE, the findings of this project are applicable to any active conflict region.
For more information, visit the GIFS page on the Taylor Geospatial website.