FAO Showcased Geospatial Technology Solutions to Address Data Gaps for Efficient Water Management in Agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a technical session at the WSTA 15th Gulf Water Conference, which took place on the 28th of April 2024, in Doha, Qatar. The session, titled "Leveraging Geospatial Technology to Bridge the Data Gap for Efficient Management of Agricultural Water," explored how innovative solutions using remote sensing and geospatial technology can tackle water and agriculture related issues

Addressing Water Scarcity Through Data-Driven Solutions

Arid and semi-arid climates, population growth, and changing weather patterns place immense strain on water resources in the NENA region. Agriculture, a major water user, is particularly vulnerable. FAO's technical session showcased how geospatial technologies offer promising avenues for addressing water scarcity and improving agricultural water management.

Unlocking the Potential of Geospatial Data

The session delved into FAO's data platforms and applications of remote sensing data. Over 120 participants attended the technical session, gaining valuable insights into:

• FAO Water Productivity Open Access Portal (WaPOR), which introduced attendees to WaPOR, a platform that offers free, remotely sensed water productivity data. Attendees learned how WaPOR provides access to geospatial information and analytics on water usage and productivity, enabling the assessment of water use efficiency, identification of water-stressed areas, and support for the formulation of sustainable water management strategies.
• Land Cover and Land Use Assessment Tools: This presentation showcased FAO's efforts in land cover mapping and cropland dynamics. Participants were introduced to the System for Earth Observation Data Access, Processing, and Analysis for Land Monitoring (SEPAL) platform and its capabilities in land cover change detection, crop monitoring, and land degradation assessment. Additionally, the Land Cover Legend Registry (LCLR) and Land Characterization System Software (LCHS) were presented, highlighting standardized tools for land evaluation.
• Global Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) Database and Modeling Framework: A collaborative effort between FAO and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the GAEZ database, was explored. This presentation demonstrated how GAEZ can support sustainable agricultural development by outlining the suitability and production potentials of various crops under specific conditions.
• Cloud-based Geospatial Tools: The presentation concluded by exploring the transformative potential of cloud computing and analysis-ready remote sensing datasets in addressing water and agriculture data gaps. Platforms like Google Earth Engine (GEE) were highlighted, showcasing how they integrate geospatial data and cloud computing to process vast amounts of information, leading to better decision-making and sustainable practices in water management for agriculture.

Following the presentations, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the FAO team on issues related to harnessing geospatial technologies for sustainable agriculture and water management.

This technical session provided a valuable opportunity for policymakers, water management professionals, researchers, and practitioners in the NENA region to explore how cutting-edge geospatial technologies can be leveraged to bridge data gaps and support achieving efficient water management in agriculture.