NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding Oct. 24 expanding cooperation on Earth observation, geospatial analytics and data technologies, NASA said in a news release¹.

Administrator Jared Isaacman and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the agreement at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa during NASA's Inspiration Tour, according to the agency¹. NASA said the pact supports USDA's plan to modernize agricultural data systems¹.

NASA said the agencies have a longstanding partnership on research and data sharing and that the new agreement focuses on better data integration and coordination between Earth observation and agricultural uses¹.

Isaacman said NASA should put its sensing, computing and analytical tools to work where they can help the public¹. Rollins said USDA would work with NASA so farmers can use that technology, research and development¹.

Under the agreement, NASA said the agencies can explore agricultural statistics, remote sensing science, modeling, geospatial data engineering and super intelligence¹. They will also look at aligning Earth observation data and analytical tools with crop monitoring, acreage and yield estimates, and drought and other disaster assessments, the release said¹.

NASA said the agencies will examine new ways to manage and analyze large datasets, with the aim of strengthening USDA data systems and giving farmers, ranchers and policymakers more timely information¹. The news release did not list a dollar amount, a duration or specific missions covered by the memorandum¹.

Sources

1. NASANASA, USDA Sign Agreement Advancing Earth Science, Agriculture9:54 AM

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