AI Innovation in Botany: Neophyte ID App N. Alim Yusuf received the WWF National Award. Award presented at the National ECHO Youth Innovation Summit 2026 in Telangana. Includes a seed grant of ₹1.5 lakh from World Wide Fund for Nature. Neophyte ID App Developed at Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, Kozhikode. App named Neophyte ID identifies nearly 100 invasive plant species in Kerala. Launched at the Kerala Science Congress (February, Kochi). Technology Used Powered by YOLOv11, an advanced machine learning model. Users can identify plants by simply capturing an image. Key Features Available in Malayalam and English. Integrates geospatial tracking to map spread of invasive species. Provides valuable data for researchers and the Forest Department. Significance Helps in early detection and management of invasive species. Supports biodiversity conservation efforts in Kerala. Demonstrates the role of AI in environmental protection and research.
