GEO Launches Early Warning Crop Monitor to Fight Food Insecurity

by | Mar 21, 2016

A crop-condition map synthesizes information for all EWCM crops as of Feb. 28, 2016. Crop conditions over the main growing areas are based on a combination of inputs including remotely sensed data, ground observations, field reports, and national and regional experts. (Credit: GEOGLAM)

A crop-condition map synthesizes information for all EWCM crops as of Feb. 28, 2016. Crop conditions over the main growing areas are based on a combination of inputs including remotely sensed data, ground observations, field reports, and national and regional experts. (Credit: GEOGLAM)

The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) introduced the Early Warning Crop Monitor (EWCM), a new tool that provides consensus reports on crop conditions in countries at risk of food insecurity in Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and East Asia. The EWCM will ultimately monitor crop development in 124 countries, totalling about 94 percent of the world's agricultural area.

The report synthesizes remote-sensing data, field observations and environmental modelling conducted by more than 40 international, regional and national organizations. The monthly reports are made available to decision-makers across the food-security community as well as the commodities markets (http://www.geoglam-crop-monitor.org/).

The Early Warning Crop Monitor provides decision makers with essential information, gathered from satellites, buoys and other observational tools, to be ready, responsive and resilient against extreme weather and water events, noted GEO's U.S. Co-Chair Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, administrator of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

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