New award for improving agricultural monitoring from Space

Leicester physicists have recently been awarded a Met Office Newton grant to monitor vegetation health and stress from Space

Food security has always been a major strategic issue related to global economic development, social stability and national independence. In China, the state of food security is very fragile and vulnerable to agricultural and hydrological drought. The CSSP China Programme aims to accelerate climate science R&D programmes to underpin development of climate services that help build resilience to climate vulnerability.

A project team led by Leicester intend to investigate the use of remote sensing techniques based on thermal satellite and the modelling of Earth Observation data products, such as land surface temperature, for assessing the impact that agricultural practices and climate change has on agriculture production. In this case the project, called VERDANT, will look at the impacts of drought on the health of the crop and subsequent yield and sustainability issues. Satellite-based observations to monitor crop health will be used and as an input to yield modelling to provide an efficient tool to assess and manage crops. This will involve space-based optical and thermal instruments to better characterise crop health across regions of China.

Project PI, Darren Ghent, says “VERDANT will contribute to the overall objectives of the CSSP China programme through enhanced collaborative research on Earth Observation of agricultural regions in China for improved management of resources for agriculture, and the development of strong strategic partnerships with in-country collaborations.”