Z-Sustainable Future: Landbouw beschermen tegen droogte met drones en satellieten

Summary

The video discusses ongoing research in Flanders to improve the drought tolerance of crops due to increasing heat and drought periods. Suikerbietenfabrikant 6 Van Der Haven, in collaboration with Vito (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), is using drone and satellite data to study the impact of climate on crops. This data helps accelerate the development of drought-resistant crop varieties. The Sensor Field project, launched in 2021, aims to monitor crops and optimize sustainable agriculture. Future goals include scaling the project and applying this technology to other crops through platforms like Mapio for broader agricultural advancements.

Takeaways

• 🌞 Climate change will lead to more heat and drought in Flanders, impacting agriculture.
• 🌱 A study is underway to improve drought tolerance in cultivated crops.
• 🍬 Sugar beet producer 6 Van Der Haven is collaborating with VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) to improve crop resilience.
• 🔬 Van Der Haven focuses on developing sugar beet varieties that are resistant to diseases and climate conditions, aiming for high yields.
• 📅 Since 2016, Van Der Haven has been partnering with VITO on innovation, with the Sensor Field project starting in 2021.
• 📡 The Sensor Field project uses drones and satellite images to collect large-scale data on the impact of climate on crops.
• 🛰️ VITO has been involved in remote sensing activities since the 1990s, focusing on vegetation and environmental monitoring.
• 💻 The project aims to create a digital twin of the agricultural environment, helping make agriculture more sustainable and climate-resilient.
• 🌾 The data helps Van Der Haven develop new varieties faster, especially those that are drought-resistant.
• 🚀 The Sensor Field project is being scaled up and aims to develop algorithms applicable to other crops, with VITO sharing the technology via the MAPIO platform.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the research discussed in the transcript?

The main goal of the research is to increase the drought tolerance of cultivated crops in response to expected heat and drought conditions in the coming years.

Which company is involved in the development of drought-tolerant sugar beet varieties?

Suikerbietenfabrikant 6 Van Der Haven, a sugar beet seed production company, is involved in the development of drought-tolerant sugar beet varieties.

Who is Van Der Haven collaborating with for this project?

Van Der Haven is collaborating with VITO, the Flemish Institute for Technological Research, to conduct the research.

What kind of technology is being used in the 'Sensor Field' project?

The 'Sensor Field' project utilizes drone and satellite imagery to collect large-scale data on the impact of climate conditions on agricultural crops.

How does the use of data and technology benefit Van Der Haven?

The use of data from drone and satellite imagery allows Van Der Haven to select crop varieties more quickly and develop products that are resistant to climate change, such as those tolerant of drought and high temperatures.

What is the role of remote sensing in this project?

Remote sensing activities, which began in the 1990s, play a crucial role in mapping vegetation and monitoring the impact of human activities and climate change on agriculture.

What is the long-term goal of the 'Sensor Field' project?

The long-term goal of the 'Sensor Field' project is to develop algorithms that can be applied to other crops, helping to optimize crop varieties and improve climate resilience.

What is the MAPIO platform and its purpose?

MAPIO is an automatic image processing platform developed to analyze land characteristics based on drone imagery. Its purpose is to assist other crop breeders in developing climate-adaptive crop varieties.

How does the project aim to help other crop breeders?

The project aims to share the technological components and insights gained through the 'Sensor Field' project with other crop breeders via the MAPIO platform, enabling them to develop climate-adaptive crops more efficiently.

What advantage does this project offer in terms of product development speed?

By using extensive data and analysis, the project allows Van Der Haven to develop new crop varieties more quickly, enabling faster introduction of drought-tolerant products to the market.