Folia Technologies

Our planet is sick, and human activity is the virus. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, global carbon emissions have increased by nearly 90% since 1970, with 78% of emissions being linked to fossil fuels and industrial processes. Greenhouse gas emissions from unsustainable industry practices are accelerating climate change at an alarming rate. The issue is so urgent that the United Nations predicts that at the current pace of carbon emissions, many of the damages of climate change could become irreversible by 2030. This includes both the ecological and social damages of climate change, such as food insecurity and increased health risks for the poor, forced migration in the global south, depletion of natural resources, habitat destruction for wildlife, economic decline worldwide, and much more. The climate crisis is a pressing matter that requires attention not just from environmentalists, but also from people from different sectors in order to foster interdisciplinary efforts with the goal of making human activity more sustainable overall. One such effort calls for using technology, a field that sometimes lacks ethical considerations, to develop innovative systems for government laboratories that predict, mitigate, and prevent harmful environmental changes. Through technology and advocacy, we at Folia Technologies endeavor to develop scalable AI technologies that synthesize climate mitigation strategies ahead of time, while also using research to inform sustainability policy. 

Folia Technologies is a youth-led non-profit research institute dedicated to developing artificial intelligence technology that addresses the climate crisis. Founded in 2022 with a vision to empower young leaders, we aim to accelerate climate action, drive systemic policy change, and empower communities nationwide to take action by leveraging science and innovation.

Our flagship product, FoliaNet, is an AI-powered device that detects diseases in crop plants, serving as an early warning system for farmers. In practice, it mitigates crop death, addresses issues of food insecurity in rural areas, and aims to protect the nearly 200 billion dollars farmers lose each year to crops with fungal diseases. 

We’re also in the final development stages of Gecko, which is an app that utilizes an AI-based recommender system to promote eco-friendly commuting options to users. It serves as a way to make sustainable living more accessible to the general public.

Lastly, given that we strive to make technology and computer science education more accessible to youth, especially those who are interested in using tech and AI for good, we’ve recently started a series called AI4Climate. In AI4Climate, we offer free educational materials and lesson plans that make it easy for youth to understand AI technologies that are applicable in sustainability, such as computer vision and natural language processing.

We're primarily aimed at serving youth and members of the communities most vulnerable to climate change's impacts. Specifically, we target youth from underrepresented and low-resource backgrounds, including minority communities and those disproportionately affected by environmental injustices. These populations often face systemic barriers to accessing technology education, opportunities, and resources, exacerbating existing disparities in climate resilience and sustainability.

Our solution seeks to directly and meaningfully improve the lives of these individuals by addressing their unique needs and challenges. Through initiatives such as our AI4Climate educational series and capacity-building workshops, we empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and resources to become leaders in climate action and environmental stewardship. By providing access to AI technologies, education, and mentorship opportunities, we aim to bridge the racial gap in computer science education and increase minority participation in the technology industry, particularly in justice-focused computing.

Additionally, our device FoliaNet serves as a tangible solution to address the needs of farmers and agricultural communities. By detecting crop diseases early and accurately, FoliaNet helps mitigate crop loss, safeguarding livelihoods and food security in rural areas. Furthermore, our outreach and advocacy efforts raise awareness about climate change and empower communities to take collective action against climate-related injustices such as food insecurity, environmental racism, and health inequity.

Our team consists of passionate young engineers and educators from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve. We prioritize community engagement and co-design processes to ensure that our solutions are meaningful and relevant. For example, when developing FoliaNet, we worked closely with local farmers and agricultural experts to understand their challenges and needs. Their input guided every step of the design and implementation process, ensuring that FoliaNet is user-friendly, effective, and accessible to consumers of all backgrounds.

Similarly, in the development of our AI4Climate educational series, we collaborated with educators and students from underrepresented communities to co-create content that resonates with their experiences and interests. By centering the voices and perspectives of the communities we serve, we ensure that our solutions are not only technically sound but also culturally sensitive and empowering.

Overall, our team's proximity to and representation of the communities we serve enables us to design and deliver solutions that address real-world challenges in meaningful and impactful ways. We are deeply committed to co-creating with our communities, ensuring that our work is guided by their input, ideas, and agendas every step of the way.

We've made significant strides in building and testing innovative solutions at the intersection of climate resilience and AI technology. Our flagship product, FoliaNet, has undergone extensive development and testing phases. Through partnerships with local farmers and agricultural experts, we have deployed FoliaNet in pilot projects across Maryland. To date, FoliaNet has been deployed on over 20,000 crops.  

Some of our other achievements as of March 2024 include dedicating over 5,000 hours to volunteer service and reaching over 20,000 youth nationwide. We've also been recognized by entities such as Girls Who Code and the Computer Science Teacher's Association. In the past, our collaborators and partners have included Google, Microsoft, UNESCO, UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), UNCCD, and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Receiving support and mentorship from Solve would be a transformative opportunity for Folia Technologies to amplify our impact and accelerate our scalability. The Solve partners' expertise in business strategy, technology innovation, and ecosystem engagement aligns seamlessly with our mission to combat climate change through AI-driven solutions and youth empowerment. With their guidance, we envision gaining invaluable insights into scaling our operations globally, refining our organizational strategy, and enhancing our fundraising efforts. Their mentorship will provide us with tailored guidance on navigating complex regulatory landscapes, forging strategic partnerships, and maximizing our impact through effective stakeholder engagement. Moreover, Solve's extensive network and resources will enable us to connect with potential collaborators, investors, and mentors on a global scale, fostering opportunities for growth and sustainability. 

Folia Technologies represents a paradigm shift in how we approach climate resilience and sustainability. 

Unlike traditional advocacy, which often relies on human-driven efforts like policy lobbying or grassroots campaigns, climate AI solutions harness the power of data to generate actionable insights, optimize resource allocation, and predict environmental trends with greater accuracy. This technological approach has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts within the climate advocacy space by offering scalable and adaptable solutions that can complement and enhance existing efforts. By providing decision-makers with real-time data-driven guidance, climate AI solutions empower governments, businesses, and organizations to make informed choices that maximize their environmental impact.

What also sets FoliaNet (which is developed by Folia Technologies) apart is that it leverages remote sensing technology to detect foliar diseases faster and more accurately than human observation alone. It's unique in its use of remote sensing technology in a manner that's not only cost-effective but also environmentally sustainable. Given that unsustainable raw materials only exacerbate issues of climate change and its health-related side effects, we took the initiative of developing as sustainable a machine as possible. The device's exterior is fully biodegradable, and the camera contains non-plastic, recyclable materials. The device also only costs $500 to make in terms of raw materials alone, which is considerably below the market average. This allows it to be easily implemented and distributed to those who need it, as we don't believe in money being a barrier to health and well-being.

It's also innovative in its health-related implementation of remote sensing technology. By prioritizing the health and well-being of farmers, FoliaNet ensures that individuals working in the agricultural sector are protected from heat-related ailments and other occupational hazards.

The immediate outputs of deploying FoliaNet include the early detection of foliar diseases, enabling farmers to take timely and targeted action to mitigate crop loss. Farmers receive real-time alerts when diseases are detected, allowing them to implement appropriate interventions such as pesticide application or crop management practices. This leads to increased crop yield, improved food security, and enhanced livelihoods for farmers.

In the longer term, the outcomes of deploying FoliaNet are multifaceted and impactful. By reducing crop loss, FoliaNet contributes to increased agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly in regions prone to climate-related risks. This enhances the economic stability and food security of farming communities, reducing their vulnerability to hunger and poverty.

By promoting sustainable agriculture practices, we contribute to environmental stewardship and climate resilience. By mitigating the spread of diseases, FoliaNet reduces the need for chemical inputs and promotes ecosystem health, leading to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.

Our theory of change is supported by evidence from pilot deployments of FoliaNet, which have demonstrated its effectiveness in detecting foliar diseases and preventing crop loss. Feedback from farmers and agricultural experts underscores the value of FoliaNet in improving crop management practices and enhancing agricultural productivity.

Our impact goals for FoliaNet and our broader organizational initiatives are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on Climate Action, Quality Education, and Zero Hunger. 

Firstly, our primary impact goal is to reduce crop loss and enhance food security by deploying FoliaNet to detect foliar diseases early. Our target is to decrease crop loss by 20% within the first three years of implementation in pilot communities, thus directly contributing to SDG 2: Zero Hunger. We measure our progress towards this goal by tracking the number of crops saved through early disease detection using FoliaNet. 

Furthermore, we aspire to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural practices, supporting SDG 13: Climate Action. By the end of the next agricultural season, we aim to deploy FoliaNet on at least 4 more farms across the United States, specifically targeting regions with high incidences of foliar diseases and heat-related illnesses among farmworkers. This deployment will result in the detection and prevention of at least 80% of common rust, gray leaf spot, and northern leaf blight cases, reducing crop loss by a minimum of 15% in each participating farm.

Additionally, we aim to increase climate literacy and STEM education among youth from underrepresented backgrounds, aligning with SDG 4: Quality Education. To measure our progress in this area, we track the number of students reached through our AI4Climate educational series and workshops, with a goal of directly serving an additional 1,500 youth within the next year.

Lastly, we strive to promote sustainable agriculture practices and environmental stewardship through community engagement and advocacy efforts. To measure our progress in this area, we will monitor the number of community events organized and the level of engagement from local stakeholders. Our goal is to host at least 10 community events and engage with 500 community members within the next year.

To track our progress towards these impact goals, we will utilize a combination of qualitative and quantitative indicators. These may include the number of diseases detected by FoliaNet, changes in crop yield and farmer income, participant feedback from educational workshops, and community survey responses on awareness and behavior change related to sustainable agriculture practices. By systematically collecting and analyzing these indicators, we will continuously assess our impact and refine our strategies to maximize positive outcomes for our target populations and the broader community.

FoliaNet, distributed by Folia Technologies, is a Python-based deep learning algorithm loaded onto a Raspberry Pi camera (held together by a 3D-printed Polylactic Acid chassis) that utilizes feature extraction to detect the beginnings of common rust, gray leaf spot, and northern leaf blight on plant leaves. Once detected, through a bot, the system sends an SMS message to the user’s phone, alerting them of the type of disease and the coordinates of the specific plant (also known as geotagging).

How it works?

• The algorithm itself is run on OpenCV and would use object detection from the camera to consistently monitor crops within a 50-square-foot radius and it’d tested and trained specifically for whatever crop is being grown in the mono-crop.

• As the plants grow, once the spores of common rust, gray leaf, or northern leaf blight start to show on the plant leaves and within view of the device, the remote device will send the alert to the user.

FoliaNet was developed with 3 goals in mind:

• Devise a strategy for leveraging remote sensing technology to reduce the prevalence of foliar diseases by detecting them faster than a human would. This way, diseases are less likely to spread, and fewer crops will be lost.

• Implement this strategy in a manner that effectively mitigates the human health hazards inherent to prolonged outdoor agricultural engagement, such as heat-related ailments.

• Execute these endeavors with a focus on a cost-effective design with biodegradable materials.

Data Acquisition

The data on which Folia was trained come from a mix of plant leaf image datasets that were manually collected through field research, as well as publically available datasets from the PlantVillage project, courtesy of Pennsylvania State University. As we continue to refine our algorithm, we expect to continue gathering visual data from local farms, while creating a varied training set with mixes of photos from government agricultural research facilities and private farms.

Software Development

The AI technology that powers Folia was developed using OpenCV in Python. More specifically, ORB (Orientated FAST (Features from Accelerated Segment Test) and Robust BRIEF (Binary Robust Independent Elementary Features)) and SURF (Speeded-Up Robust Features) to extract features from all reference images (datasets) before cross-referencing them with each frame of the device camera, which takes pictures at a frequency of 2 frames per minute currently.

3 part-time staff, 12 volunteers

2 years

As a minority-led organization, Folia Technologies is very committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This is why our bylaws contain clauses that promote equitable recruitment among both employees and volunteers, including necessitating at least 30% of employees be female/gender minorities, at least 50% of employees be BIPOC, and at least 20% of employees be from overburdened and underserved communities (as highlighted by the U.S. Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool).

Our business model revolves around three key pillars: Research and Development, Outreach and Advocacy, and Capacity Building and Training for Youth.

In the Research and Development segment, comprising 40% of our budget, we allocate funds to support youth researchers and tech developers in researching climate change, environmental sustainability, and AI-driven solutions. This includes compensation for personnel, investment in necessary equipment and technology infrastructure, and procurement of research materials. By fostering a collaborative and inclusive research environment, we aim to develop impactful solutions that address real-world challenges.

The Outreach and Advocacy pillar, constituting 30% of our budget, focuses on raising awareness about climate change, promoting sustainable living, and emphasizing the role of technology in addressing environmental challenges. Funds are allocated for designing and implementing local and national outreach campaigns, educational materials, and community events in the DC Metropolitan area and beyond. Through these initiatives, we aim to engage with diverse communities, schools, and youth organizations, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and grassroots activism.

The Capacity Building and Training for Youth segment, representing 20% of our budget, aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of volunteers in AI technologies, climate science, and advocacy. This includes organizing workshops, seminars, and training sessions moderated by community members and featuring AI experts as invited guests. Additionally, we provide opportunities for low-income, minority youth researchers to receive grants for professional development activities such as attending AI conferences, participating in online courses, and engaging in mentorship programs.

Finally, a Contingency Fund of 10% is reserved for unforeseen expenses, emergencies, or project contingencies, ensuring the sustainability of ongoing initiatives despite potential challenges or fluctuations in funding. 

As a grant-funded nonprofit research institute, our financial plan revolves around securing funding from various sources to support our mission of advancing scientific research and innovation. Our primary revenue stream comes from securing grants from government agencies, private foundations, and philanthropic organizations that align with our research priorities and goals. These grants provide essential financial support for our research projects, operational expenses, and staff salaries. 

In addition to grants, we may also generate revenue through partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, and other nonprofit organizations. These partnerships may involve joint research initiatives, technology transfer agreements, or co-development projects that leverage our expertise and resources to create mutually beneficial outcomes.

To ensure financial sustainability and maximize our impact, we prioritize strategic planning and resource allocation. Our team actively seeks out funding opportunities that align with our research objectives and areas of expertise, carefully crafting grant proposals that highlight the significance and potential impact of our work. We also engage in continuous fundraising efforts to diversify our funding sources and mitigate the risk of over-reliance on any single grantor. So far, through grants and partnerships, we've raised $71,000 in operational funding.

In terms of expenses, we allocate funds towards research equipment and supplies, laboratory facilities, staff salaries, and overhead costs associated with running the institute. We strive to maintain transparency and accountability in our financial management practices, adhering to best practices in grant reporting and compliance to ensure responsible stewardship of funds.