"Revolutionizing Agriculture: ESA's Space-based Nutrition Monitoring for Crops"

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission and the Italian Prisma mission have shown potential in monitoring the nutritional content of staple crops, according to ESA-funded research. By using satellite data, farmers can take appropriate steps to boost the quality of their crops as they grow, addressing the issue of malnutrition caused by a lack of essential nutrients. Conventional methods of measuring nutrient concentration are costly and time-consuming, making satellite monitoring a more efficient solution. The hyperspectral instrument carried on the Prisma mission and the multispectral instrument on the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission are sensitive to crop nutritional content, allowing for early intervention with fertilizers or other agricultural practices. This research could help ensure that basic crops are as nutritious as possible, especially in regions where malnutrition is prevalent.