AI aids botanists in 'race against extinction' of vital plants

The rise of AI and digitisation could be a turning point in the 'race against extinction' faced by botanists trying to identify and save vital plants before they vanish, according to a major report from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. New technology is enabling scientists to track how flowering times have shifted by weeks around the world, rapidly identify new specimens and even get crucial genetic data from 180-year-old fungus specimens, potentially opening a 'genomic goldmine'. Digitisation and online access to millions of specimens that were until now only accessible in archives is also producing new insights, especially in the global south.

Tech is helping to identify and save new specimens and could open 'genomic goldmine' of fungi data. Digitisation and online access to millions of specimens that were until now only accessible in archives is also producing new insights, especially in the global south. The report highlights the potential of AI and digitisation to accelerate the discovery and preservation of plant species.

By leveraging these technologies, scientists can gain a better understanding of the world's plant diversity and develop more effective conservation strategies. Why this matters: The application of AI and digitisation in botany has far-reaching implications for the preservation of plant diversity. As the world continues to lose species at an alarming rate, the use of technology to identify and save new specimens is crucial.

This development could have a significant impact on the global south, where access to digitised plant specimens is opening up new avenues of research and discovery. For developers, this presents opportunities to create innovative solutions for plant identification and conservation. Businesses can also leverage this technology to develop more sustainable and environmentally-friendly products.

However, there are still questions about the long-term effectiveness of these technologies and the need for continued investment in digital infrastructure to support their use. The intersection of AI, digitisation, and botany is an area that will continue to evolve, with potential implications for fields such as agriculture, ecology, and conservation biology.