Veneto Agriculture: 25% of satellite data is used to support agriculture

Space and agriculture are two worlds that are increasingly closer, that constantly communicate by sharing knowledge, know-how and data almost in real time. As part of Space Meetings, Veneto Agricoltura yesterday organized Space AgriTech Expo, a full day of meetings, round tables and interviews, moderated by journalist Roberto Arditti, to take stock of the integration between these worlds, tell best practices and face the challenges of tomorrow. During the day, institutions, trade associations, top exponents of the space world, entrepreneurial realities that already integrate the information and knowledge we receive from space into their activities alternated, with the aim of sharing what is already being done and the next imminent challenges to be placed on the agenda.
“We must continue to support policies that incentivize the adoption of Earth observation technologies, that foster dialogue between sectors and that stimulate the creation of innovation hubs because today the meeting between Space Economy and agriculture is a concrete opportunity to address challenges such as climate change and the scarcity of resources,” declared Federico Caner, Councilor for Tourism, Agriculture and EU Funds of the Veneto Region, at the opening of the day. “Satellite technologies now allow us to monitor fields, optimize irrigation, prevent diseases and make agriculture more sustainable and competitive. Moments of discussion such as the one organized by Veneto Agricoltura demonstrate not only that it is necessary, but also that it is possible to have governance capable of involving universities, businesses, space agencies and farmers, in line with the Green Deal, the European Space Program and the opportunities of the PNRR”.
“Today, space represents a crucial asset to address some of the most urgent challenges of our time, starting with food security and environmental sustainability,” underlined ASI Director General Luca Vincenzo Maria Salamone. “The Italian Space Agency is strongly committed to enhancing skills and technological solutions in the space sector for the benefit of Earth observation. Italian Earth observation programmes such as COSMO-SkyMed PRISMA and IRIDE, equipped with cutting-edge technologies, allow us to collect data that is essential for precision agriculture, environmental monitoring and natural resource management. Today, approximately 25% of satellite data is used in the agricultural sector: the challenge is to transform this data into concrete and accessible services for businesses, institutions and citizens. To do so, it is essential to strengthen the ecosystem that unites research, industry and public administration, so as to fully exploit the potential of space for increasingly sustainable and inclusive development.”
“Space AgriTech was a fundamental opportunity to strengthen a bridge between the enormous steps forward recorded in recent years by the Space economy, the world of scientific research, the institutions and the primary sector supply chain. It was a day full of extremely relevant contributions. The concept of “conquering” Space is increasingly and rapidly entering a framework of sharing knowledge and expertise, from space to land and vice versa,” declared Nicola Dell'Acqua, Director of Veneto Agricoltura, at the end of the day. “Listening to trade associations - representing small farmers to large supply chains - about the innovative ways in which they are increasingly receiving and using data from space to optimize crops, reduce costs, and combat climate change, I believe is the most concrete and effective response that this day could provide. If we want space not to be distant from the agricultural world, we need to continue working in the coming months by directly involving and investing in producer organizations,” concluded Dell'Acqua.