Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

Where to start using AI if you are curious but cautious?


Based on 15+ conversations I had yesterday with people and businesses at BridgeAI exhibition in London (both those who are already using it & those still considering it), I noticed good progress.



Finally, everyone already knows what AI means 🥳


But the main problem is understanding where to start without creating chaos in business.
Apologies, but academia does not have this challenge.
Only those who are in a production cycle experience the need to swap repetitive work for automation.





If you do not have a constant process which is painful and time-consuming, then AI is up to you and perhaps just a nice-to-have.

Not yesterday, but recently I spoke with some plant nursery owners who have the headache of germination count, but they are not ready to pay.
This means it is not the problem where they should start using AI.

AI, as the first use case for your business, must start with those tasks which you simply cannot bear anymore - you need a painkiller.



For example, recently (again, not yesterday), I spoke with guys who manually count stomata as part of business consultancy services for plant breeding, not for a grant project.




They count around 60–80 stomata per photo, and they have 25 photos in a batch. This means someone is counting between 1,500 - 2,000 stomata, sometimes with errors and wasted time, but the job must be done.



So, the things to remember before adopting AI:
-> Not every process needs AI.
-> Not every task should be automated.
-> It is absolutely possible — and necessary — to start with a small experimental case, not full deployment.





So if you have something in your daily business routine which is:
✔ frequent
✔ annoying
✔ time-consuming
✔ easy to test (we call it “human verification”)
then it is probably a good candidate for AI automation 👍





And another important point: please, do not start from the technology.
Start with the NDA.
NDA = non-disclosure agreement, confidentiality agreement & as an SME, it is better to include data-sharing options there — just to be sure you are not missing them.
This is what I do with our NDAs, because any artificial intelligence work obligatorily includes the fact that you will share your data with the company that will process it. This is not a bureaucracy but must-have in AI adoption.





So, as you can see, I have no idea what the BridgeAI conference in the Grand Hall was about 😊


Because as an exhibitor I had so many interesting question-answer conversations 🤔




Just to sum up.
1. If you are planning to adopt AI for your big or small business, think about something that is a bottleneck.
2. Sign a non-disclosure agreement with data-sharing clearly explained.
3. Start small & test on a real painful workflow.

Yes, in that order 😉


PS: finally so glad to meet Babar Javed after 4 years of Teams 🙏.
And huge thanks to my neighbour exhibitor Rogiros Theophanous for saving my bananas from being eaten by some AI-hungry visitor :)



#aiadoption #drmarynakuzmenko #bridgeai

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23 hours ago | [YT] | 2

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

We are breaking into this week on the scooter together with an elephant, straight from the BridgeAI Showcase exhibition in London, organised by ‪@Innovateuk‬ and @TheAlanTuringInstituteUK.



When I saw this art object next to the St Paul's Cathedral (and our exhibition place called Convene Sancroft), I saw nothing else but the reality of the world we live in.

AI, like a big elegant elephant, is accompanied by other tech friends and is speeding forward, while we all are trying to catch up.



So if you don’t feel able to keep the pace — don’t worry, there are many of us 😂

But the main thing is: keep your eyes on the leaders and follow.

Today's event is all about this 😉



More updates are coming soon.

#BridgeAI #aiinagriculture #AIadoption

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1 day ago | [YT] | 9

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

What a wonderful (musical) news I have!
Finally, I have my music distributed to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Amazon, Deezer and 150+ global platform.

One more day in a year to celebrate - birthday of my musical brand More Maryna: 8 March 2026 🎉🌍🎼

#moremaryna

2 days ago | [YT] | 2

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

What's your preference to watch at "AI in Agriculture" channel?

5 days ago | [YT] | 2

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

This is the story of a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses and how they tried to make me look like a spy but ended up with a recording of the basic product overview on YouTube :)

6 days ago | [YT] | 2

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

Quick and dirty.
These are my favourite keywords.
If you want not just to survive in the AI world, but to thrive — please, remember these three words and apply them every time you have a new idea to make life better.

Quick and dirty prototypes are the ONLY way to move quickly in checking if something is working or not.


And it’s the MAIN reason the AI industry moves fast.

Plus, accepting this principle is the right way not to go insane in the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence, when the new models are appearing much faster than mushrooms after the rain :).



Those guys who are perfectionists!
Yes, I know and feel your internal hedonism of every detail, every comma, every “right thing done”.
And it’s still valuable in the era of AI!
But only at a later stage — when the concept is approved, working, and bringing results.



Perfectionists who are following their traditional principles will be overtaken by their brothers and sisters, who accept the “quick and dirty” rule 😉



Why am I so philosophical about this?
Because as a true follower of the concept above I made a quick and dirty website to explain what I’m doing :)



It’s pretty easy to tell in one word.
Or in one sentence.
But why limit it?
I tell it in one website 🤩
marynakuzmenko.com/



1. It’s absolutely far from perfect
2. It's done in 48 hours.
3. There are many areas for improvement.

And they will be done — but only if there is a need for that.


Only if it turns out to be a working thing, then it’s worth the investment of time and effort.
If not — this quick and dirty prototype will still be a good training exercise for some other, more impactful project.

Regarding the beauty and style of my website (woman's voice 😉).



In a parallel universe: I have a professional photoshoot scheduled: nice makeup with MUA, stylish looks and scenery business view as advisor, speaker and educator.



In reality: I have had just one appropriate photo — taken at the greatest Oxford Farming Conference, after a full day of conference, and after being soaked under the Oxford cold rain 🤣



However, it does not matter at all on this stage.

Because the goal of this website is not to show that I’m able to hire a hairdresser or makeup artist.


The goal is to check the concept: working or not.

If it works, then the project moves to the next stage — with a more solid approach, budget, and plans.


If not, then we'll do something else.



ACTION POINTS FOR YOU:
👉 Check the long-awaited list of crazy ideas you’ve been thinking about.
👉 Make quick and dirty prototypes of them.
👉 And may the power of AI help you make them happen 🌟

#aiinagriculture #drmarynakuzmenko #aiskills

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1 week ago | [YT] | 12

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

My dear Udemy students,

I know that 53 of you are waiting for the Certificates confirming successful completion of the course. I know how important this is in such a challenging global environment: fewer jobs, constant demand for AI skills, and a million other reasons that pushed you to enrol and finish the course.

Apologies for being busy with work and everything that happens to me behind the screen — but, please, don’t worry: in March you will get your certificate.

Clarifications, as usual:
1. You must have 100% completion.
Certificates are sent ONLY to students who have completed the course 100%.

2. I do a manual review.
This means I personally check every student’s record and performance.
So please, do your job — and I will do mine!

3. Certificates are on-demand only.
Since the course is free, Udemy does not generate certificates automatically.
Please open the congratulations email at the end of the course and fill in your details in the Google Form.

Expected date for sharing the certificates: 14 March.

If you wish to complete the course by that time — you are more than welcome. Everything, finished after this date will go to summer batch (June -July - holidays - icecream time :)).

Brief statistics about "AI in Agriculture: Practical Introductory Course" as of 1 March 2026 (it’s been 8 months since launch):

-> Total number of students: 2,696
-> Total countries reached: 119
-> Total minutes taught: 48,742
-> Total rating: 4.69 out of 5 (based on 522 feedbacks 🙏)

What's in the course (now - I will do my best to update it soon 🤞):

👉 AI Basics
- What is Artificial Intelligence?
- How AI Works: Simple Examples
- Traditional vs Conventional Farming vs Smart Farming

👉 Technologies Behind AI in Agriculture
- AI Components: Overview
- AI Components in More Details
- Examples of Hardware for AI-powered Farming
- Machine Learning as one of the Main Technologies of AI in Agriculture
- Computer Vision in Agriculture
- Examples of Applying Computer Vision in Farming
- Sensors & IoT on the Farm

👉 Ethics, Challenges
- Problems with Biased AI
- Who Owns the Farm Data?

Action points for now:
1. If you’ve finished the course — please wait two more weeks for the certificate.

2. If you haven’t finished yet — do it right now. Here is the link:
www.udemy.com/course/ai-in-agriculture/?referralCo…

3. Me? Go and work, Maryna — no time to be lazy in March! 😂


Anyway, thank you so much for being passionate about AI in Agriculture.
Let’s continue self-educating and growing together! 💚🚀🌱


#udemy #aiskills #drmarynakuzmenko

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1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 14

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

Singapore Exchange — what an event!🤩
Yesterday, I was privileged to attend a curated event organized by Innovate UK Business Connect with people truly immersed in the subject.
We have a few dozens of people with the clear focus: Singapore/UK collaborations in agrifood, advanced manufacturing, and cleantech.


1. I really appreciated the meeting’s specific focus.
While agrifood might seem like a niche, it is actually deeply linked to the other two areas represented.
During the session where we had group tasks to clarify opportunities, we had so much fun imagining how computer vision and deep learning—as the cornerstones of quality control — could help packaging manufacturers assess shelf-life. Even better, producers can use these same tools to boost quality at the release gate.


2. We spoke about rice (deliciously and in-depth, with real numbers and one-to-one stories shared by founders who have experienced the harsh reality of the rice industry!)


3. We also discussed the transformation of the Singapore Food Story.
Instead of a single 30% target for all food, Singapore now aims for specific targets by the year 2035:
-> 30% of Protein Needs: Specifically eggs and seafood. Current Status (as of 2024): ~26% (with hen eggs already exceeding 30%).
-> 20% of Fiber Needs: Fresh leafy and fruited vegetables, beansprouts, and mushrooms. Current Status (as of 2024): ~8% (with beansprouts already exceeding 50%).


4. I also shared a bit about Petiole Pro (we were in Singapore at SIAW 2023).
Did you know that in Singapore, the average use of our mobile application for leaf area measurement is over 51 minutes (3,080 seconds)?
I was overexcited to see these metrics in our Google Analytics dashboard!🤗
We have dozens of users — I know where they work because we are in constant contact — but I don’t want to "spill the beans" earlier than needed. One day, I will tell our "Leaf Story" :)
Plus we have so amazing community of users in Indonesia and Philippines


5. Final point: culture.
This was actually the question I asked during one of the panels because human interaction is always the most intriguing part to me. We continued this topic in off-the-record conversations, and it is an area where all founders are united: building a trust-based relationship on the ground is the most important step before you even have your first thought of doing business in Singapore.


So I say "Yes!" to Singapore 🤝

This is a "Yes" from my Slavic origin within a British reality, and definitely that real "Yes!" that Asian people say when they are happy and want to continue a relationship.
(If this paragraph is unclear — please, just search "saying yes in Asian culture") 😂


Thank you Innovate UK, Gail Cherry, Ian Holmes, David Golding, and Rebecca Sharpe for making this event such an insightful experience.


It was a pleasure to meet such knowledgeable people regarding the SG digital, tech & financing ecosystems.
Let's continue!


#singapore #drmarynakuzmenko #agrifood

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1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 8

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

Yesterday at the @WithTheEconomist Future of Food Summit 2026, I heard several interesting points.

1. AI in agriculture (or maybe better: apps in agriculture 😉)
On farm level, AI is not judged by “model accuracy.”
That’s the 2nd question.

The 1st and most painful is: does it kill Excel operations?
In both sessions and networking conversations, the real problem was described very simply:
“We are still copying data into spreadsheets in 2026”

The winning ag apps will not be the ones adding more “cool AI features” (even if they are really cool 😎).
They will be the ones that quietly remove admin.



2. Plant breeding (UK precision breeding context)
The adoption problem of precision breeding is not science.
It is the information environment.
The scientific challenges are manageable.
Consumer acceptance & retailer confidence are the real variables.
And those depend on transparency, supply-chain engagement, standards, regulators & end markets — more than on the unique skills required to apply CRISPR.
The UK precision breeding story has only just started.
Supply-chain actors (including retailers) are interested.
But the pathway forward runs through assurance systems and communication.


3. Vertical farming.
A very thought-provoking talk from Mike Zelkind (@80acresfarms).
An unusual U.S. perspective, especially coming from one of the most developed VF markets (alongside Singapore).

He didn’t frame energy cost as the enemy.
He said about corporate finance discipline as the clue.
The narrative was not “vertical farming failed”
It was: it’s young (about a decade), it has achieved a lot! 🚀
But fundraising outpaced fundamentals, and many business models were flawed.
Regarding VF 2.0 (and broader CEA) - it is becoming an operations + unit economics story, not just a tech story & a race for better varieties.


4. Food as medicine
Food-as-medicine (I really wish this in NHS and everywhere in the world) is turning healthcare into a behaviour design problem, not a nutrition lecture. Think about this: doctors are not taught nutrition. They learn bones, muscles, chemistry — but not the food that is the foundation of health. So when doctors move into kitchens, that’s system change!


5. Ukraine
I felt emotional listening to Oksana Osmachko from the Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine. My parents live there now, and I know what two hours of electricity per day means.
Ukraine is a live case study of food systems under attack — and the first failure mode wasn’t crops, it was coordination.
Solution? Decentralised storage, distributed energy, digitised logistics, irrigation and water management + more automation = more stability when shocks hit.

Resilience in agriculture is not only agronomy.
It is systems architecture.


And interestingly, this echoes what we discussed at The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) in January.

By the way, yesterday I heard again:
“If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.”

Perhaps that is the real motto of agrifood discussions 💚

#agrifood #foodsecurity #drmarynakuzmenko

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4 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 11

Dr. Maryna Kuzmenko

Fruit Logistica 2026 - Episodes from Day 1



***



It actually started even earlier than Day 1
Half the people on my flight Tuesday morning were headed to FL26.
How do I know?
At passport control, I kept hearing "Fruit Logistica" cited as the reason for visiting Germany.
To follow the trend, I told the officer the exact same thing 😎



***


Fruit Logistica is the place to meet friends, fruits, and everything in between :).

Interestingly, it’s not just companies here; whole countries are competing for attention (read: future contracts worth thousands and millions). Because apples can be grown in the UK, Germany or South Africa.
Hence, to win this game, the first step is to make someone stop near the stand...

As a result, I’ve seen so much fruit & veg creativity - check the photos it's a bare minimum of what's going on here! 🤩



***


Technologies are mostly gathered in Hall 3.1. I spent a lot of time here yesterday and will be back today and tomorrow.
It’s an impressive collection of what's currently on offer for orchards and beyond.



***


At Fruit Logistica, I felt a real sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Opportunity) when it comes to the sessions.

There are so many great speakers on different stages simultaneously.
But the distance between stages is roughly a 15-minute crowded walk!

Anyway, yesterday I caught a bit about CEA and vertical farming.
Plenty's Dan Malech shared insights on how to not just survive, but truly prosper and grow in this challenging environment. (Product-market fit is the key, but more on that in a future post!)

Also I suspect a deeper dive into that topic is coming in Amsterdam this June (9–11). You know what I mean! ;)



***


Drones are here in every variation — big, small, outdoor, indoor, beautiful, and... very beautiful 😘! I was particularly impressed by the cameras embedded directly into the drone frames.



***


Orchard monitoring — using drones to collect data on tree health and fruit load — is a hot topic. I met at least three (!!!) companies who explicitly shouting about it at their stands.
For those who were hiding I’m coming back today! :)



***


AI has found its way into the slogans of almost every company and startup. Sometimes it’s overused.

But since everyone is looking to optimize productivity, the sales teams are just doing their job.

But when you ask specific questions, it becomes obvious they are selling AI hype. I was just listened, but knowing the reality... it rarely works as advertised.



***

AI-powered quality control for fruits was represented by Petiole Pro and Maryna Kuzmenko, who wore a jacket with a perfect match for the fruits we analyze! 🫐🍎🍓



***

Final bit: one of yesterday’s conversations went like this...
We spoke for a few minutes, and then he said: "I feel like I know you, but I don't know from where. Are you on LinkedIn?"
I answered: "Maybe...
You know, our digital technology world is like a big village.
Everyone knows each other!" :)



Now, I'm off to Day 2 of #FL26 🤗


#fruitlogistica

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4 weeks ago | [YT] | 3