Mapping Sunflower Crops in Ukraine; NASA Harvest Partners with Mathematica; Expected Food Insecurity in Southern Africa; and More!

NASA Harvest News

Mathematica and NASA Harvest Partner to Advance Evidence for Climate Adaptation

NASA Harvest and Mathematica have partnered to assess climate smart adaptation interventions. Our new partnership will combine Mathematica's deep evaluation and policy analysis expertise with NASA Harvest’s comprehensive knowledge of climate’s impact on agriculture to expand understanding of effective interventions and strengthen the climate adaptation evidence base.

First-of-its-kind High Resolution Map of Ukrainian Sunflower Cropland Allows for New Estimates of Production

With the invasion of Ukraine by Russia causing disruptions to agricultural production, it is vital to understand how cropland is being impacted and the resulting effects on crop yields.

Earlier this year, researchers with the NASA Harvest Consortium released a new method to map sunflower cropland using Earth observation radar satellites. That workflow was used to produce a high resolution (20 m) map of sunflower cropland across Ukraine. The resulting map of sunflower planted area has allowed for enhanced insights into sunflower production across the country, specifically how it has changed in the aftermath of the Russian invasion.

Historic High Needs Anticipated Across Southern Africa Through Early 2025

A recent report by FEWS NET warns of potential food insecurity across South Africa given El Nino-driven drought and conflict in parts of the region. FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) is projecting food assistance needs to exceed 30 million people from October 2024 to March 2025, an increase of 50% compared to the same period last year.

Upcoming Events

NASA International Space Apps Challenge

October 5 - 6, 2024

Registration now open for the 2024 NASA International Space Apps Challenge

Innovators, technologists, storytellers, and problem solvers around the world are invited to register for the 2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge, the largest annual global hackathon. This annual event fosters innovation through international collaboration by providing an opportunity for participants to utilize NASA’s free and open data and space-based data from 15 space agency partners.

During the NASA Space Apps Challenge, participants gather at hundreds of in-person and virtual local events to address challenges submitted by subject matter experts across NASA divisions. These challenges range in complexity and topic, tasking participants with everything from creating artistic visualizations of NASA data to conceptualizing and developing informational apps and software programs. In keeping with this year’s theme, “The Sun Touches Everything,” NASA Space Apps invites participants to consider the far-reaching influence of the Sun on Earth and space science.

AGU24 Annual Meeting

December 9 - 13, 2024

NASA Harvest and NASA Acres invite abstracts for our joint session at the AGU24 meeting “Satellite Solutions: Advancing Agricultural Monitoring Through Remote Sensing” focused on EO data applications in support of food security. We seek contributions showcasing satellite remote sensing's role in addressing today’s most pressing agricultural challenges at both local and global scales. Topics include disaster management, early warning systems, innovative insurance schemes, and regenerative practices. Emphasis will be placed on practical applications and real-world impact.

Please visit the official AGU website for more information on the abstract submission process.

NASA ROSES Solicitation

February 14, 2025

NASA ROSES has opened a new solicitation and is accepting proposals for research funding. ROSES (Research Opportunities for Space and Earth Science) is seeking proposals for projects that apply Earth observations to improve or develop decision-making activities in ecological conservation and management.

Virtual meetings for potential proposers will occur Friday, November 15th and Monday, January 13th. Notices of intent are requested by February 14, 2025, and proposals are due March 14, 2025.

Learn more about this specific solicitation here and about the NASA ROSES program here.

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