WASHINGTON DC – NASA is using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to transform modern farming.
As explained in Food Dive, Hawai’i’s agricultural production and food systems have suffered for decades because of ongoing issues of climate change, commercial exploitation, and policy failures. NASA is stepping in to lend its expertise in hopes of addressing food security and rebuilding local agriculture.
Hannah Kerner, an assistant professor at Arizona State University and the AI and Machine Learning Lead for NASA Harvest and NASA Acres, received a research grant in 2021 to assist Maui County in increasing food production.
Using satellite imagery, farmers, community leaders, and policymakers are able to monitor things like crop health, soil conditions, and water usage from afar. Artificial intelligence is then used to analyze real-time data and provide the insights needed to address food insecurity.
“There’s a need at the basic level to be able to monitor how much food and where food is being grown in the county,” Kerner said.
Hawai’i allocates less than 1 percent of the state budget to agriculture, but its dependence on mainland imports has caused Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders to disproportionately face higher rates of food insecurity. Maui County reports the state’s highest prevalence of food insecurity, especially in the wake of the devastating August 2023 wildfires.
To read more, click on MSN
