Images of climate innovation

Farming from space: Increasing the efficiency & sustainability of cropland management practices

The research involves combining a process-based crop growth model, which is driven by weather observations, with satellite Earth observation data to generate estimates of crop nutrient status and forecast yields at the sub-field scale.

Details of Partnership/Collaboration

This research was funded by the joint Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and National Environment Research Council (NERC) Sustainable Agricultural Research and Innovation Club (SARIC) initiative (grant numbers: BB/P004628/1 and BB/P004458/1) and the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO).

Application of Research

Research application is that of precision farm management, including the use of fertilisers and the strategic planning of harvest operations.

Summary of Societal and Economic Impact

The more efficient use of fertiliser applications potentially reduces agricultural emissions relating to fertiliser applications whilst maximising crop yield and profitability. The timely forecasting of crop yields could allow for the mitigation of any negative economic impacts of harvest, such as those related to low yield and labour costs.

Entrant: Vasilis Myrgiotis and Stuart Simmons , University of Edinburgh

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