Precision Agriculture and Forestry: Bytes for Bites

Abstract

This chapter will present the historical, current, and future status of the use of space technologies, including the new generation of small satellite constellations, for precision agriculture and forestry. Human population growth and urbanization, along with environmental issues and climate change, will continue to put pressure on our global agriculture and forestry resources. New and improved methods of feeding the world’s growing population, while at the same time protecting our finite natural resources, will be needed and must be developed now if they are to meet the coming demands. This chapter will consider the benefits and challenges of this emerging new technology and how the small satellite revolution will impact this important capability.