FUNAAB, Austria's PeaceEye Partner on Digital Tool to Address Farmer–Herder Conflict

In a bold move to resolve the lingering farmer-herder crisis in Nigeria, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), today, January 19, 2026, entered into a strategic partnership with PeaceEye FlexCo, an Austria-based geospatial intelligence and digital innovation company, to develop a technology-driven Farmer–Herder App aimed at preventing and mitigating conflicts across Nigeria.

The partnership formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marked a significant step towards deploying research-led, inclusive digital solutions to one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most persistent socio-economic and security challenges.

Farmer–herder conflicts have intensified across Nigeria in recent years, driven by climate change, declining land productivity, water scarcity, and shifting migration patterns. These pressures have heightened competition over land and natural resources, resulting in recurring violence, displacement, and economic losses. The FUNAAB–PeaceEye collaboration seeks to address these challenges through innovation, data-driven planning, and community engagement.

PeaceEye FlexCo, headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, specialises in applying Earth Observation (EO), Artificial Intelligence (AI), satellite imagery, and open-source intelligence to geospatial risk analysis for public good. Under the partnership, both institutions would co-design and deploy a Farmer–Herder App that is accessible, user-friendly, and adaptable regardless of literacy or educational background.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, PeaceEye’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Andreas Papp, commended FUNAAB’s strong ties to local communities and its practical understanding of the realities faced by farmers and pastoralists. He described the initiative as a collaborative, bottom-up process that prioritises community participation over externally imposed solutions.

“This partnership goes beyond technology,” Mr. Papp said. “It is about building trust, enabling dialogue, and co-creating digital tools that help communities agree on grazing routes, land use, and peaceful coexistence. FUNAAB’s research capacity and grassroots engagement make it an ideal partner.”

Welcoming the PeaceEye delegation, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, described the collaboration as timely and strategic, noting that “The farmer–herder crisis is not merely an agricultural problem; it is a complex socio-economic and cultural issue,” Prof. Kehinde said. “Beyond pasture provision, sustainable solutions must account for social dynamics, cross-boundary movements, and community perceptions. FUNAAB is well positioned to integrate these dimensions into a scalable, evidence-based model.”

Meanwhile, the Farmer–Herder App would leverage geo-fencing technology to provide farmers and nomadic herders with real-time access to mapped farmlands, designated grazing areas, and approved migration corridors. By promoting transparency, coordination, and shared understanding of land use, the app is expected to significantly reduce conflict risks and support sustainable resource management.

The brief ceremony was attended by the Ag. Director, Directorate of Research, Innovations and Partnerships (DRIP), Dr. Oluwagbemiga Adeleye; Caribbean Countries Desk Officer for FUNAAB, Prof. John Oyedepo and the immediate past Director, DRIP, Prof. Mutiu Busari, including the University Legal Officer, Mrs. Olanrewaju Tanimowo, among others.