In Paris, Copa-Cogeca and the European Space Agency (ESA) inked an inaugural Memorandum of Intent titled “Supporting the Sustainable Transformation of the Agri-food Sector through Digitalization and Space”.
Christiane Lambert, President of Copa, who was present at the signing, remarked, “The EU farming community needs to ensure food security for a growing population, whilst also preserving nature and healthy soils, and protecting biodiversity. The use of digital and space technologies is already key for many of us, but it will become increasingly important for the strategic autonomy required by the European Union.”
Nick Appleyard, Head of Applications and Solutions Department at ESA, who attended the signing, commented, “We are very excited about the collaboration with Copa-Cogeca. Space-based solutions are pivotal for the agri-food sector as they unlock several services which allow the community to grow financially and at the same time respect the environment. Copa-Cogeca are the perfect partner to accelerate the green transition of the agri-food sector.”
Copa-Cogeca and ESA have collaborated to tackle industry challenges, targeting services that empower farmers and agri-cooperatives with enhanced natural resource management, refined decision-making tools, and meticulous environmental monitoring, ensuring profitability. Satellite technology facilitates global connectivity, monitors crop conditions aiding in climate adaptability, and tracks precise positioning of individuals and vehicles.
Through this collaboration, Copa-Cogeca's agri-food knowledge will synergize with ESA's technical prowess, particularly leveraging the Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme, to develop and showcase space solutions that cater to user requirements.
Building on their collaboration, Copa-Cogeca and ESA are eager to expand their partnership. To kickstart this, ESA is set to launch a specific Call for Proposals titled ‘The Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture Through Digitalisation and Space’ on October 13, 2023.