GEO Work Plan Symposium 2011 GEO Agricultural Monitoring Task DS 09

1. GEO Work Plan Symposium 2011 GEO Agricultural Monitoring Task DS 09

2. DS 09 Global Agricultural Monitoring and Early WarningTask (Formerly Ag 0703) Definition Increase the use of Earth Observation to support the generation of timely and reliable agricultural statistics and associated information at national and global levels, leading to improved accuracy and confidence in the reporting. Support the improved detection of agricultural drought leading to effective early warning of famine and a more timely mobilization of an international response in food aid. Enhance monitoring and modeling of agricultural land use change through improved periodic national to global assessments and projections, to inform land use policy in the context of economic development and climate change. Increase national capabilities for agricultural monitoring through regional networks, thematic workshops and targeted capacity building leading to greater transparency in methods and reporting (Agriculture Strategic Target).

3. Note re. Data/Information Services • The 09 Task is focused on enhancing and increasing use of EO data by the agricultural monitoring community at the global and national level – fostering cooperation and coordination amongst the Community of Practice (data providers, data brokers and information users) • Data/information services is just one, albeit important aspect of the DS09 Task, namely the provision of satellite data, in-situ data and climate model output with a focus on: • Satellite data/product continuity (Space Agencies) • Coordinated Satellite Acquisition (increasing temporal frequency) – virtual constellation (Space Agencies) • Open Data Policy (Space and Weather Agencies) • Improved distribution of in-situ meteorological sites and expedited data delivery (WMO, National Agencies) Agricultural monitoring at the national and global scale informs the national and international decision-making

4. Task DS 09 Task Co-Leads: Chris Justice, University of Maryland Wu Bingfang, Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, CAS, Beijing, China Olivier Leo, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy Derrick Williams, USDA FAS, USA Task Executive Director: Jai S Parihar, Space Applications Centre (ISRO), India GEO -JECAM Sub-task Lead: Ian Jarvis, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada GEO Secretariat PoC: Joao Soares, GEO Secretariat, Geneva CEOS GEO Agriculture POC: Prasad Thenkabail, USGS , USA

5. DS 09 Approach Satellite, In- Situ Data/Product and Model Providers Agricultural Monitoring Community (National and International level) Data Services National and International Policy and Decision Making Information Services (statistics/alerts/bulletins/reports)

6. Deliverables • The Task deliverable is an enhanced global operational agricultural monitoring system of systems for agricultural production, famine early-warning, food security and agricultural land use change. • This will require capacity building at global and national levels – particularly for countries with insufficient capability for national reporting

7. Priority Actions: • Joint Experiments on Crop Assessment and Monitoring (GEO-JECAM) • Establishing a series of research supersites over a range of different cropping systems • Facilitating the inter-comparison of data and methods for crop area, condition monitoring and yield estimation, with the aim of establishing ‘best practices’ for different agricultural systems • Approach: to acquire EO data from available assets - coordinated through CEOS and to collect and share in-situ measurements – joint analysis activities • Current Challenges: i) Commitment from Space Agencies to provide data for sites, particularly India, China and Russia, ii) support for cross site comparison workshops Sites currently: China, EU, Argentina, Paraguay, US, new sites being added - Lead (Canada)

8. Priority Actions: • The PAY- Production Area Yield Database • Goal more consistent global reporting • Approach • Countries provide statistics to a common data base for inter-comparison and analysis • GUI allows for queries on Yield, Production and Area by: Agency, Commodity (e.g. Corn, Soy, Wheat, Rice), Country, Year (2005-present), Date of Forecast, Data Type (Forecast, Reported) • Analyze major discrepancies • Current Challenges • Initially for internal use by the CoP • Additional monitoring groups and countries are encouraged to participate Leads: US, China, EU, FAO

9. Priority Actions: • Coordinated Data Initiatives for Global Agricultural Monitoring (CDIGAM) • Focus on priority data activities • Approach: identify key topics currently focussed on • Define Observation Requirements and Identify gaps in the current in-situ observation (Documentation) • Ensure Data Continuity (Advocacy) • Encourage Free and Open Data from EU, China, India, Russia (Advocacy) • Coordinated moderate resolution satellite acquisition – virtual constellation • Timely delivery of product • Compilation of best available global information on agricultural areas, crop calendars and cropping system (Data inter-comparison) • Improved distribution of in-situ weather data network for Africa (WMO) • Current Challenges • Responsiveness of agencies Leads: US, EU,

10. Priority Actions: • GLAMSS Thematic Workshop Series • A series of technical international workshops on techniques and methods, best practices, emerging technologies and model inter-comparisons • Approach • Targeted workshops • on agricultural topics that can benefit from increased communication • to advance specific task activities • Hosted by a member of the community of practice • Where possible co-located with other community meetings • Current Challenges • Funding for developing country meetings and participant travel Leads to date: EU, China, Canada, Brazil, India

11. Re-organization of 2009-2011 Sub-tasks (i.e. which sub-tasks support the new Task) • Ag 0703a has been expanded into the current Task • Ag 0703b and c have been inactive – suggest removing these sub tasks from the new program • Some aspects of Ag0703b maybe included in terms of a joint activity on drought with DS 01

12. Related 2009-2011 Work Plan Progress • GEO-JECAM • JECAM Office Established – Web site developed and detailed science plan and data sharing principles developed • 12 initial sites established – new site proposals being evaluated • Space agencies currently developing acquisition plan • PAY • Data entry completed analysis being initiated • CDIGAM • Dynamic Global Croplands Likelihood Map (250m) • Near Real Time data from MODIS (NASA LANCE System) and Spot VGT • Compilation of Enhanced Global Crop Calendars (ISRO)

13. Related 2009-2011 Work Plan Progress (cont’d) • GTWS • S. American JECAM Session 15th SBRS, Cuiritiba, Brazil ( May 2nd 2011) • CoP coordination meeting at GEO Ministerial, Beijing (November 2nd 2010) • Observation Requirements & Coordination Workshop, Belgium (October 12-15th 2010) • JECAM China Coordination Workshop, Hong Kong (September 28th 2010) • Thematic workshop on impact of Climate Change on Agriculture, Ahmedabad, India (December 2009) • Thematic Workshop SAR/Optical Agricultural Monitoring, Kananaskis, (Canada, Nov , 2009) • Workshop on Establishing a Global Ag. Monitoring System of Systems, (CAS, Beijing, Feb, 2009) • Ag 0703 Session at NEESPI/LCLUC Workshop Almaty, (Kazakhstan, Sept, 2009) • Ag 0703 Session at SBSR, Natal (Brazil April 2009) • Thematic Workshop and Document on Best Practices for Crop Acreage Estimates (JRC, MARS, June, 2008)

14. Inclusion of New Proposals • A GEO Agriculture Rangelands activity • Initial discussion 2011 ISRSE Sydney • Initial community workshop needed to • Identify community priorities for a GEO activity • Australia a potential activity lead • A joint Agricultural Drought activity in partnership with DS01 Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning • Initial discussion 2010 Beijing Ministerial and follow up telecons • Initial agricultural drought workshop needed to • Identify community priorities for GEO activity • Increasing emphasis needed on 1) Agriculture and Water Use (topic for 2012 Workshop, Beijing) , 2) Agriculture and Climate Change (considering a workshop 2012, USA) - new proposals TBD

15. Issues and Gaps • Space agency commitments for GEO-JECAM (India, China, Japan and Russia) • Space agency commitment for coordinated moderate resn acquisition strategy • Commitment from WMO for rain-gauge data iniatitive • Funding for Developing Country GEO-JECAM and Participation in workshops • Funding for Agricultural Monitoring Capacity Building Possible Measures to fill Gaps • GEOSEC to contact China, Japan and India Agency Heads for Data Provision for GEO-JECAM (working with CEOS). • Identify donors for Capacity Building • Elevate national commitments from G20, BRICS

16. Resources Available for Implementation (current status and in planning) • COP Contributions to GTWS (workshops) + strong support from EU/JRC, China IRSA, India, Canada • Support for GEO-JECAM Secretariat (Agriculture and Agrifood Canada) • In-kind support for AG Secretariat (ISRO, India) • Training program initiated (India) Pending • US proposal for US Ag Co-Chair submitted to NASA • China GEO Ag proposal submitted by IRSA to MOST

17. Open for Plenary Discussion Identify Synergies • Develop next steps on Joint SBA/Task initiative on Drought – agricultural drought is currently addressed as part of agricultural monitoring • Linkages to DS 10 (Ag Land Cover), IS 03 Ag Capacity Building • Big picture issue of moving Task from primarily voluntary contributions to funded GEO task activities