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Palestinian Teens Showcase AI "Agribot" at World Robot Olympiad — Innovation, Not Conflict

Fifteen-year-old Razan Shawar and her teammates travelled over 24 hours to present their AI-enabled "Agribot" at the World Robot Olympiad in Singapore. The Agribot measures six soil parameters to help farmers improve yields and reduce waste. Although they did not win a medal, the students said representing Palestine and showing innovation rather than conflict was their key goal.

09:59 PM, 11/28/2025Technology
Palestinian Teens Showcase AI "Agribot" at World Robot Olympiad — Innovation, Not Conflict

Fifteen-year-old Razan Shawar travelled more than 24 hours from Ramallah to Singapore to present her team's AI-powered invention at the World Robot Olympiad. She said she wants people to associate Palestine with innovation rather than conflict.

The Palestinian delegation journeyed from the West Bank via Jordan and Dubai to attend the three-day global robotics competition that attracted more than 1,500 competitors from over 90 countries and territories.

Agribot: AI to help farmers

Competing in the Future Innovators senior category, the team developed the "Agribot," a robotics system designed to boost agricultural productivity. The Agribot uses sensors and artificial intelligence to measure six key soil parameters — including moisture, pH and nutrient levels — and a mechanical arm to take precise readings. Its data analysis aims to help farmers increase yields and reduce waste.

"We want to show the world that we are not just under war... we can stand here and show people and the world that we can do this," Razan said. "We made our project, we're proud of it."

Team members said their next goal is to make the device affordable and widely available to farmers who largely rely on traditional methods. Sixteen-year-old Jehad Abudayyeh emphasized the central role of agriculture in Palestinian life: "It is so important in our country... because it's a way of life. I'm very happy that my project will help them." Another teammate, Mustafa Assi, said he hopes for safer conditions that would allow technology and engineering to flourish at home.

Representation on the global stage

Although the Palestinian team left the tournament without a medal, the students said representing their homeland mattered deeply. Palestinian delegations have attended the World Robot Olympiad since 2014, but there were no Palestinian representatives at the 2023 edition in Panama; since then, participants have come only from the West Bank, with no teams from the Gaza Strip.

Malaysia won roughly one-third of the medals at this edition, while Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Canada and the Philippines also took top prizes in various categories. For the Palestinian team, the experience offered exposure, technical learning and a chance to highlight positive stories about Palestinian youth and innovation.

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