NASA Acres Consortium partners and collaborators to gather in St. Louis for Kick-Off Meeting this November
October 24, 2023 - Written By Nicole Pepper
Over 50 Consortium partners and collaborators will gather in St. Louis, Missouri this November for the inaugural NASA Acres Kick-Off Meeting. This event is the first Consortium-wide gathering since its formal launch in April of this year. The Consortium is led by the University of Maryland with Research, Development, and Extension Partners at nine other universities and two supporting private organizations, comprising top-of-the field scientists and practitioners in agricultural remote sensing, artificial intelligence, soil science, agronomy, rangelands, sociology, economics, and data policy. This event will set the foundation for NASA’s new, U.S.-focused Consortium on agriculture and food security.
NASA researchers and leaders gathering with farmers to discuss challenges that farmers are facing in today's crop management system.
The United States (U.S.) is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of agricultural products. Economically, it provides a stable income source for millions of individuals and rural communities, fostering economic stability and job security. Additionally, the U.S. agriculture sector plays a major role in both national and global food supply, supporting food security and economic well-being in many other nations. NASA Acres is at the forefront of providing actionable insights and data-driven solutions to farmers and decision-makers, enabling choices that result in more sustainable, productive, and resilient agricultural practices. By harnessing the power of satellite Earth Observation (EO) technology and fostering collaboration across the agricultural sector, the Consortium is committed to supporting U.S. farmers, ranchers, and policy makers in their efforts to sustainably meet the growing demand for food while safeguarding the environment.
Incorporating diverse voices from across the agriculture spectrum is critical to work of the Consortium because it leads the way to a holistic understanding of agricultural challenges, promotes innovative solutions, and fosters inclusivity, equity, and cultural relevance in our efforts to address the complex and evolving needs of agriculture and food security.
"We recognize that the challenges facing modern agriculture are complex and multifaceted,” says Alyssa Whitcraft, Executive Director at NASA Acres, “By connecting U.S. farmers and ranchers with leaders in agricultural and remote sensing research and technology, we aim to facilitate the adoption of innovative, user-driven technologies and practices that will not only address today's challenges but also ensure food security for future generations."
The Kick-Off event will be used by Consortium partners to align on strategic goals for key focus areas including the development of methods that use satellite EO to measure and map core variables of land use and productivity, the evaluation of the adoption and impacts of agronomic management practices, and the development, testing, and transitioning of tools that support on-farm management and policy. On the opening day, Senator Brian Williams, of the 14th Senatorial District in St. Louis County, will welcome the group along with Dr. Karen St. Germain, Division Director of NASA Earth Science Division, Dr. Bradley Doorn, NASA Water Resources and Agriculture Program Manager, and Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft, Executive Director of NASA Acres. Additionally, the Morning Session will feature a panel to provide reflections and commentary on how the agriculture technology industry and NASA Acres can support one another’s missions. Dr. Whitcraft will moderate the panel comprised of experts from across the agriculture and commodity industries including Dr. Steven Rosenzweig, Agriculture Lead Scientist of General Mills, Mark Baxa, CEO of the Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals, Dr. Vasit Sagan of Taylor Geospatial Institute, Dr. Brent Myers, Research Laureate of Environment and Ag Systems Data Science at Corteva Agriscience, and Chancellor Dr. Kristin Sobolik of University of Missouri - St. Louis. The meeting will also feature roundtable discussions on Digital Agriculture, Data, and Privacy and Sustainability Decisions, Policy, and Action.
Flyer highlighting panelists including Alyssa Whitcraft (NASA Acres, University of Maryland), Vasit Sagan (Taylor Geospatial Institute), Kristin Sobolik (University of Missouri - St. Louis), Mark Baxa (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals), and Steven Rosenzweig (General Mills).
NASA Acres extends our sincere gratitude to Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, University of Missouri - St. Louis, the World Trade Center, Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals, Bayer, and NASA for their support of the Kick-Off event and broader program goals.
This event is closed to the public.
About NASA Acres:
NASA Acres brings the value of Earth observation technology down to Earth. We bridge the gap from space-to-farm and education-to-impact together with U.S. farmers, ranchers, and other agrifood system decision makers who are charged with addressing the most pressing challenges to sustainable, productive, and resilient agriculture, both today and into the next generation.
Website: nasaacres.org
Twitter: @AcresProgram
For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Nicole Pepper
Communications and Outreach Coordinator, NASA Acres