How NASA Harvest Sees Agriculture from Space

“Can we grow food on the moon?”

Dr. Inbal Becker-Reshef is used to questions like that, although that’s not really her area of expertise. As the Director of NASA Harvest, she’s focused on what we’re growing right here on Earth.

On The Point Cloud, she spoke about the partnership between space technology and agriculture.

With over a thousand Earth-observing satellites currently in orbit, the use of satellite imagery for agriculture is enabling farmers to monitor the entire Earth and see beyond the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

However, Becker-Reshef notes that there’s a significant bottleneck in converting satellite data into valuable insights for mapping global agriculture is the lack of access to ground data or ground validation data. In the interview, she also discussed the use of satellite data in monitoring crop production in conflict zones and extreme situations.

The Point Cloud is Agerpoint’s interview series featuring leaders at the intersection of climate, agriculture, nature, and technology. Watch and read highlights from the conversation below. You can also hear to the full interview as an audio podcast on your favorite platforms.

How NASA Sees Agriculture from Space

When people hear the words "NASA" and "agriculture" together, they might think of growing wheat in zero gravity or terraforming Mars. But Becker-Reshef says that increasingly, the reality of satellite-assisted agriculture is sinking in.

"I think as this area and field really are growing very rapidly, there's more and more familiarity with this and it makes more sense to people," she says.

Becker-Reshef notes that satellites can monitor the entire Earth and see beyond the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Increased availability of satellite imagery has allowed for more frequent observations of the same spot, providing valuable insights.

NASA Harvest, says Becker-Reshef, can see “a lot more at one time or monitor essentially the entire Earth, every day.”

Satellite Models Need Ground Validation

While satellite data can provide a wealth of information about crop growth and development, Becker-Reshef says it is crucial to validate this data with ground observations.

“It's not good enough that I can run a model and produce a map,” she says. “A model will produce a result, but how good is that result? How accurate is that result?”

“Having that connection back . . . to what we're actually monitoring is absolutely critical for being able to use satellite data,” she continues.

In other words, satellite observation works best when you’ve got good data from the ground. According to Becker-Reshef, "access to ground data or ground validation data is really one of the biggest bottlenecks we have today."

Crop Insights from Space in Times of Conflict

Satellite data is proving to be an invaluable tool for monitoring crop production in conflict zones and extreme situations.

Becker-Reshef and her team used satellite data in monitoring Ukraine's crop production amid Russian occupation. She explained that satellite data showed that 22-23% of Ukraine's overall cropland and 29% of its wheat-planted area were occupied by Russia. However, the satellite data also revealed that Ukraine's wheat production was much higher than expected, with 22% of the production coming from the occupied territories.

Becker-Reshef stresses that satellite data cannot provide information on who is harvesting the crops, where they are being stored, or if they are being exported. But sometimes, satellite observation is the best or only way to understand what’s happening in certain areas.

“In Ukraine, this is due to war and conflict, but you can imagine an extreme event” she says. “A flood event or a drought. And as we see more climate change, we know there's increasing frequency and severity of extreme events.”

A rapid satellite overview “becomes very important and can provide really valuable information.”

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