Chris Aubrecht

“Data collected for one purpose have the potential to generate economic and social value in applications far beyond those originally anticipated.” This idea, highlighted in the World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives, is increasingly shaping how development institutions think about data. Unlocking that value requires more than availability — it requires systems that enable reuse, integration, and equitable access to the benefits data can generate.

When you hear about satellite information in agriculture, you often imagine a farmer driving his tractor in a large field, with the help of a GPS and a fancy display showing the latest satellite derived information. But can satellite-based earth observation technology also benefit smallholder farmers, who typically farm on land that is smaller than 2 hectares?

Don't miss part 1 of this blog post: The sky is not the limit: Satellites in support of smallholder farming. The World Bank recently published a paper on Harnessing Digital Technologies to Improve Food System Outcomes. It points out that new and expanding technologies have not always realized their full potential in rural areas, where access to digital technology is hampered by low connectivity and coverage, higher installation and maintenance cost and other factors.