How Satellites Are Supporting Farmers Across Africa | Catherine Nakalembe | TED

Overview

Catherine Nakalembe, a satellite food security specialist, discusses how satellite data and innovative technologies are being used to support smallholder farmers across Africa. She highlights the challenges of adapting global agricultural models to local contexts and shares how tailored solutions can mitigate the impacts of climate change, pests, and natural disasters on food security.

Notable Quotes

- True innovation is not about high-tech systems, but about making the technology fit the problem. – Catherine Nakalembe

- We covered all of western Kenya in two weeks with just two teams, collecting over five million images. – Catherine Nakalembe, on using GoPros to gather data for crop modeling.

- If crops fail, no food is available for a lot of people who depend on what they produce. It translates into, you know, sometimes an entire generation being undermined. – Catherine Nakalembe, on the stakes of food security.

🌍 The Role of Satellites in Food Security

- Over 8,000 satellites orbit Earth, capturing daily images that can be used to monitor crops, rainfall, droughts, and floods.

- Satellite data enables experts to assess agricultural conditions globally, providing critical insights for decision-makers.

- Nakalembe emphasizes the transformative potential of this technology in addressing food insecurity, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.

🧩 Challenges of Adapting Global Models to Local Contexts

- Many existing agricultural models are designed for large-scale, single-crop farms in Europe or the US, making them unsuitable for the diverse, small-scale farms in Africa.

- African farms often resemble a tapestry with small fields and mixed crops, which are misrepresented in satellite data.

- Nakalembe highlights the importance of tailoring models to local realities to ensure accurate and actionable insights.

📸 Innovative Data Collection Techniques

- To improve data accuracy, Nakalembe's team used GoPros mounted on motorcycles and cars to capture images of crops in western Kenya.

- This method, akin to a Google Street View for crops, collected over five million images in just two weeks.

- The data was used to train AI models to recognize specific crops like maize, beans, and cassava, enhancing the precision of satellite-based assessments.

🌊 Responding to Natural Disasters with Data

- Nakalembe recounts a 2024 flood in Kenya where satellite data was used to assess affected croplands.

- The Ministry of Agriculture utilized this information to develop targeted response programs, such as distributing seeds to farmers for replanting.

- This example underscores the life-saving potential of timely and accurate data in disaster response.

💡 Redefining Innovation in Technology

- Nakalembe argues that innovation isn't about creating the most advanced technology but about adapting tools to solve specific problems effectively.

- By providing accurate, context-sensitive information, technology can save time, money, and livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable communities.