In an effort to address the global nutrient crisis and food insecurity, scientists are exploring the possibility of using satellites to monitor the level of nutrients in food crops from space during their first days of growth.
This innovative technique would allow farmers to detect nutrient deficiency problems early and take measures to solve them.
Micronutrient deficiency, known as “hidden hunger,” is a serious public health problem that affects more than one billion people worldwide. Although these people may consume enough calories, they do not receive the essential nutrients needed in their diets.
According to Slash Gearthis has led to unacceptably slow progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The researchers’ conclusions
The current approach to nutrient analysis in harvested grains is expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, it can only be done after harvest, limiting the ability to address nutrient deficiencies in growing crops. This is where satellites come into play.
Researchers from the University of Twente and the Italian National Research Council have conducted research using satellite data to analyze the nutrient composition of growing crops, comor corn, rice, soybeans and wheat in the Italian region of the Po Valley. They used hyperspectral sensors on satellites to measure the chemical composition of crops at different stages of growth.
The results were encouraging, especially for important nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron in wheat and soybean crops. While accuracy varied for other nutrients, the promising approach could give farmers an early warning of nutrient deficiencies in the first days of growth.
The HyNutri project has paved the way for a follow-up project called EO4Nutri, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). This new project will assess nine additional crop nutrients using data from ESA’s CHIME satellite mission, which will be equipped with advanced hyperspectral instruments.
The ultimate goal is to provide farmers and food agencies with an early warning tool to address nutrient deficiencies in crops during their first days of growth. This would allow timely measures to be taken, such as the application of organic or inorganic supplements, to ensure adequate nutrient absorption by plants.