Developing sustainable business models using Earth Observation for climate adaptation
Increasing climate-related risks including extreme heat, drought and the high prevalence of pests and diseases puts agricultural and food systems under constant pressure. While new data and technologies, such as Earth Observation (EO), can help predict and prevent threats, it is not readily available. This project aims to close this gap by delivering a multi-service, multi-user platform that supports collaborative data sharing and application. The system will help to meet the challenges of adaptive agriculture, integrating data sets that address the exposure, hazards and vulnerability of individual commodity supply chains to climate-driven risks. CABI is leading on developing sustainable business and governance models, and a maize use case in Kenya that will help to understand user needs and challenges that EO data and analytics can help address.
Enhancing Europe’s readiness for managing fall armyworm, an invasive pest threat
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is one of the major insect invaders in maize production regions worldwide. Over the last decade, this American-origin caterpillar has invaded Africa and Asia, whilst heavily impacting yields. In some countries, food security has been challenged. In other countries, the sudden heavy use of pesticides to control this invasive has created health and environmental problems. The pest has now started to migrate into Europe which is causing concern. Fall armyworm is a new pest to Europe, so the expectation is to use pesticides to control it. This collaborative project aims to improve the preparedness of European agricultural actors through safer and more sustainable control practices.