Synthesis of Points Made

1. Synthesis of Points Made

2. GEOGLAM General Guidance • Greater institutional engagement needed • Identify some near term manageable successes – focus on gap filling • Sustainability of initiative ? – Will be addressed by building on national and global operational systems • Need a means by which to keep this issue on the G20 Ag Ministers agenda • Maintaining commitment from individual countries • Need to continue to engage related global initiatives e.g. Global Ag Stats Strategy • Build at the institutional level where there is a mandate ( Min of Ag ) • Clear Incentives for participation needed – data policy for consortium • Need targets and measures of “improvement” and demonstrated effectiveness • Focus on areas/topics where RS can make a positive difference • Timeliness should be a focus • Ensuring satellite continuity “operational’ issue • Clarification of Objectives of GEOGLAM

3. Engaging Relevant Partners • WMO high level discussion needed on GEOGLAM participation (as a GEO Partner) • CEOS ditto ( CEOS Plenary Nov ) • FAO Ag Stats (guidance needed) • UNCCD, Conv Biodiversity Players (rangelands) • Pro-active International Agencies can help change the status quo ! • National Ag Ministries – in some cases can be problematic to engage – long term availability of proven higher quality products can pay off • G20 presents an opportunity to rekindle or initiate interactions between the new and traditional methods

4. Linkages to AMIS • Common interest between the global action of GEOGLAM and AMIS in terms of main crops and the 30 producers /exporter countries - prioritization of where to focus capacity building effort would help • Augmenting current systems with new EO-based methods e.g. acreage and yield obvious candidates • Strength of GEOGLAM on observations & data utilization • Mechanism for communication between GEOGLAM and AMIS needed • Need a tight coupling to decision processes - timing critical for markets – traders - governments • Which information is missing (Ag Ministers?) - what new information is needed • How to proceed with explanation of numbers and harmonization? • Need one estimate ? ? – multiple similar numbers would be stronger • Reduced uncertainty– increased stabilization • JRC is actively supporting AMIS ( w. MARS data and infrastructure )

5. Countries at Risk • GEOGLAM could contribute to GIEWS auxiliary data set initiative – crop calendars, field size, • Improved rainfall data (encourage/strengthen on-going WMO initiatives?) • Area planted identified as a tall pole • Potential area for expansion into land use, farming system changes, vulnerability • Pasture/Rangeland emphasis • Inventory surface water

6. Operational Research and Development • Utilize JECAM – already in process • Harmonization of sensing systems (Mod Res’nexamples) • Minimizing field survey with remote sensing • Models and Data Assimilation • Continue to expand microwave capabilities for cloud impacted areas (Tropics +) • Tools for Integration at the operational level – linking field data to satellite data (indices) – interpretation and feedback - • Characterizing Farming system changes • Making new sensing systems operationally relevant • Explore hyper-spectral opportunities (italy/israel/aus) • Ground-based remote sensing methods • Need to examine appropriate methods for Research to Operations • Upscaling and Downscaling issues

7. Break Out Groups • Global Producer / Exporter (Wu, Leo) • Next steps • Linkage to Food Security • Inc. Satellite Component • Countries at Risk (Ahmed, Eilerts) • Priorities and next steps • Discussion with WMO on rainfall est • National Capacity Building (Jarvis, Latham) • Best practices • Priority G20 Countries