Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- It is planned to use space technologies (satellites, remote sensing, digital agriculture) to transform the food production system and ensure its greater efficiency, Dunyo news agency reported, citing a statement by UN First Deputy Secretary-General Amin Mohammed speaking on the sidelines of the Food Systems Summit in Rome.

According to the UN News portal, the Deputy Secretary General emphasized the urgent need to use space technologies to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. “More resilient systems will better serve people and the planet by spurring agricultural transformation and economic development, and helping to protect the environment and health of the most vulnerable, including women, children, youth and marginalized communities,” she added.

In a complex global context, from conflicts to COVID-19 to the climate crisis, she says, the emergence of new tools, especially digital agriculture, is welcome: satellites and remote sensing provide ample opportunity to optimize food production and develop targeted strategies.

Space technologies are already showing their effectiveness - their application can increase farm productivity, reduce material costs, improve soil conditions and fight climate change. These innovative technologies also make it possible to monitor plant diseases and predict yields.

To date, space technologies are already being used for crop monitoring, drought probability assessment, market analysis, and for calculating biomass development and water consumption. They are used to manage crops and estimate the amount of water needed for irrigation, as well as help to combat serious threats to agriculture and food security at the regional and global levels.

Aerospace technology, for example, has proven useful in developing a warning system for the early appearance of the Desert Locust. This system integrates data from satellite remote sensing and micro-drones to analyze and model the situation.