CGIAR launches Asia Digital Hub at WorldFish to drive AI

By Newsflash Writer

Penang, Malaysia – June 2, 2025 — CGIAR, the global research partnership focused on food security, has launched the Asia Digital Hub at WorldFish headquarters in Penang, Malaysia, establishing a regional center to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovations for sustainable food, land, and water systems across Asia.

The Hub, a key initiative under CGIAR’s global Digital Transformation Accelerator, is set to become a vital platform for testing, incubating, and scaling digital public goods that enhance climate resilience, inclusive development, and sustainable food production across the continent.

The launch coincides with a landmark year for WorldFish, which is celebrating 50 years of scientific innovation, including the creation of internationally recognized tools such as FishBase and ReefBase. The new Hub builds on that legacy, aiming to deploy AI-powered technologies that support food systems of the future.

“The Asia Digital Hub is designed to equip policymakers, scientists, and communities with the digital tools they need to respond to real-world challenges,” said Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed, Director General of WorldFish. “Hosting it at WorldFish reflects our commitment to making data and innovation accessible, actionable, and responsive to the needs of the people we serve.”

The opening ceremony featured a ribbon-cutting led by CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr. Sandra Milach, who represented CGIAR Executive Managing Director Dr. Ismahane Elouafi. In a statement, Dr. Elouafi emphasized the significance of the initiative in transforming food systems through digital tools.

Showcasing next-generation digital platforms

Attendees at the launch were introduced to a range of digital tools already under development or deployment. Among them was AquaData, a WorldFish-led knowledge platform that provides curated, user-friendly data to farmers, policymakers, and researchers. Another highlight was Coasts Explorer, an open-source, AI-powered platform that integrates fisheries data across national boundaries. Built on the Peskas software—already being used in Asia and Africa—Coasts Explorer offers near-real-time monitoring and decision-support for small-scale fisheries.

“Digital tools like Coasts Explorer, Peskas, and AquaData can transform how we manage food systems,” said Dr. Alex Tilley, Digital and Data Science Lead at WorldFish. “They put timely and accurate data into the hands of decision-makers. The potential for digital innovation in this space is enormous, and the Hub provides a vital platform to test, incubate, and scale tools that support sustainable food production, climate resilience, and inclusive development.”

The CGIAR Asia Digital Hub will operate as both a virtual and physical collaborative space, hosting training workshops, co-designing digital solutions, and advancing data-driven decision-making among CGIAR centers, partners, and national systems across Asia.

With the launch of the Asia Digital Hub, CGIAR and WorldFish are charting a bold new course for the future of digital agriculture in the region—one grounded in science, inclusivity, and sustainability.