Space4Agri
How to involve stakeholders and younger generations in earth observation research and support the local agro-food sector
The general aim of the project is to address the demand for consistent and up to date information from the agricultural sector in Lombardy (Italy). S4A uses aerospace technologies, such as satellites and drones, and ICT technologies, to help local authorities and farmers monitor and manage the agro-food sector better.
A sub-set of these farms are involved in the S4A study: their cultivation is being monitored by CNR-IREA researchers for scientific purposes and specific field measurements have been taken in the area on a regular basis for many years. The project adopts a multidisciplinary approach in which scientists engage with a wide range of stakeholders and sections of the public in an R&I process. It also includes science education activities that have involved schools and researchers in participative workshops.
Team
For this project, 11 senior researchers belonging to three different research institutions of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) are collaborating. These are from the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA - six researchers), the Institute of Industrial Technologies and Automation (ITIA - three researchers) and the Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes (IDPA - two researchers) and another six non-permanent staff have also joined the project.
Partners
Collaboration with the Regione Lombardia and Arpa Lombardia
Project timeframe
The project ran from July 2013 until October 2015
Project Location
Milan, ITALY
Contact
http://space4agri.irea.cnr.it/
Alba L’Astorina lastorina.a[at]irea.cnr.it