Kerala Launches AI App ‘NeophyteID’ to Track Invasive Plant Species

Kerala has launched an AI-powered mobile application, NeophyteID, to help users identify and map invasive plant species across the State. The application has been developed by researchers at the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences (MBGIPS).

NeophyteID is powered by the YOLOv11 machine learning model and uses image recognition combined with geospatial tracking to accurately detect invasive, or neophyte, plant species. Users can identify plants either by capturing images through the mobile camera or by uploading photos from their gallery.

Each verified identification is automatically added to a real-time distribution map, enabling scientists and policymakers to track the spread of invasive species across Kerala. The app is expected to support ecological research, conservation planning, and community-based biodiversity management, while also encouraging public participation in monitoring invasive flora.