Engaging farm advisors to understand use of satellite data

Sentinel-2 pseudo-true colour composite from 2016 with a Kompsat-3 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) product from 2015 inset. Sentinel data courtesy of ESA/Copernicus.

The Space4Climate Market Breakthrough Funding (MBF) Phase 2 project aims to target stakeholders who are delivering ‘the last mile’ of innovation to the farm, and understand how they are using satellite data – particularly satellite imagery – to support farmers and growers cope with climate resilience.

Alongside the farmers themselves, these stakeholders includes those involved in interpreting data and providing advice/support to farming, such as machine providers alongside agronomy services, i.e., activities that support farmers with field crop production and soil management, and encompasses consultants, agritech centres, and supporters of innovation such as UKRI and agricultural colleges. We believe the “last-mile” supply chain stakeholders provide a strong conduit through which the satellite imagery community can add value to the agricultural sector.

NASA UK Cloud-free, Earth Observation, remote sensing, satellite

NASA Earth Observatory images by Joshua Stevens, using VIIRS and MODIS data from LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response and the Level 1 and Atmospheres Active Distribution System (LAADS) and Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE), and Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

We currently have a short online survey running until the end of September to gather views and perceptions. It only takes a couple of minutes and no personal information is requested, you can access the survey here.

Better understanding these stakeholders perceptions, motivations and barriers to using satellite date will enable us to progress one of high-level recommendations from the Phase 1 project we are following; namely:

  • To develop a flagship demonstrator or illustration of how data and services can support end to end supply chain operations

This Phase 2 project will culminate in a show case event towards the end of 2025, and the production of a project report. The Phase 1 project report is available here.

If you would like to make contact, give input into the work, and/or be invited to the showcase event, please get in touch below.

    Space4Climate, Earth Observation, satellite, farm, agriculture, farmers

    Space4Climate Market Breakthrough Phase 2 team logos