Namibia cancels $2.4 million AI crop monitoring deal with US firm

Namibia has terminated a $2.4 million contract with US firm 6th Grain Corporation for an AI and satellite-based crop monitoring system, citing failure to meet legal and procedural standards. The Ministry of Agriculture formally ended the agreement after a government review. The one-year project, signed in June 2026, was designed to monitor staple crops like maize and millet using remote sensing and AI, including crop mapping, drought-risk assessments, and a farmer survey database. The ministry issued a formal termination notice, stating the decision safeguards state interests and ensures contract compliance. The deal had faced prior scrutiny over procurement procedures and data sovereignty concerns, with officials questioning foreign oversight of agricultural data. 6th Grain defended the agreement as donor-funded, while the US Embassy had welcomed it as a boost to bilateral ties.