USDA and NASA Strengthen Collaboration to Advance Sustainable Agriculture and Earth Science Research
Washington, June 21, 2023
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance their collaboration in various areas. This partnership aims to improve agricultural and Earth science research, technology, and agricultural management, while also promoting the application of science data and models in agricultural decision making.
Advancing Sustainable Development Goals
The collaboration between USDA and NASA aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2: Zero Hunger and Goal 13: Climate Action. By leveraging NASA’s Earth observation data, the agencies aim to create climate-resilient food systems and develop sustainable farming and aquaculture practices.
Investing in the Future Generation
The MOU also emphasizes the agencies’ commitment to inspiring the youth in America to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and agriculture. NASA’s Bridge Program and USDA’s NextGen program will play a crucial role in fostering workforce development partnerships with higher-education institutions, including Tribal and Minority Serving Institutions. The USDA’s NextGen program, which invests $262.5 million, aims to cultivate the next generation of diverse food and agriculture professionals.
Supporting Space Exploration
The partnership between USDA and NASA extends to space exploration efforts. The agencies will explore opportunities to improve crop performance to meet Earth and space-based goals, including supporting NASA’s Artemis program. This program aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon and establish long-term lunar exploration for future human exploration of Mars.
Examples of Collaborative Efforts
The MOU builds upon the partnership between USDA and NASA that began in 2015. Some recent and ongoing collaborative efforts include:
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USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and NASA, in collaboration with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, sent 16 young people to NASA Space Camp in 2022. This initiative provided youth with the opportunity to learn robotics, teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills, as well as experience real-world STEM applications.
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USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and NASA developed Crop-CASMA, a free online tool that utilizes soil data to track droughts and floods, plan crop planting, and forecast agricultural yields. The data from Crop-CASMA is incorporated into NASS’s weekly crop progress reports, providing valuable information for farmers and farm managers to make informed operational decisions and strategic plans.
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USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and NASA scientists are collaborating on the development of a hyperspectral imaging system. This system aims to monitor plant health in plant growth chambers for astronauts during space missions. The partnership also explores other methods to grow sustainable, fresh food in space, such as identifying plants that can continuously flower and produce.
Conclusion
The strengthened collaboration between USDA and NASA reinforces their commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture, Earth science research, and inspiring future generations. By combining their expertise and resources, the agencies aim to address some of the greatest challenges related to food security, climate change, and space exploration.
Learn more about NASA Earth Science initiatives and impact at: science.nasa.gov/earth-science
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The article discusses the collaboration between the USDA and NASA to improve agricultural research, technology, and management. This relates to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) as it aims to improve agricultural practices and ensure food security. The partnership also focuses on education and workforce development, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Additionally, the article mentions the importance of climate-resilient food systems and sustainable farming practices, which are relevant to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers.
- Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
- Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training.
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
- Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
Based on the article’s content, the targets identified are directly related to the SDGs mentioned above. The collaboration between USDA and NASA aims to improve agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers (Target 2.3). It also focuses on providing relevant skills and education to youth for employment and entrepreneurship (Target 4.4 and Target 8.6). The partnership recognizes the importance of integrating climate change measures into agricultural decision-making (Target 13.2) and promoting sustainable management of forests (Target 15.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
- Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.
- Indicator 8.6.1: Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment, or training.
- Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production.
- Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management.
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators. However, based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress. These indicators align with the official indicators provided by the United Nations for monitoring the SDGs. Indicator 2.3.1 measures the volume of production per labor unit, which can reflect improvements in agricultural productivity and incomes. Indicator 4.4.1 assesses the proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills, which indicates progress in providing relevant skills for employment. Indicator 8.6.1 tracks the proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training, reflecting progress in reducing youth unemployment. Indicator 13.2.1 measures the number of countries with integrated policies/strategies/plans for climate change adaptation, which can indicate progress in integrating climate measures into agricultural decision-making. Indicator 15.2.1 assesses progress towards sustainable forest management, which is relevant to promoting sustainable land use and halting deforestation.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. | Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. | Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill. |
| Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training. | Indicator 8.6.1: Proportion of youth (aged 15-24 years) not in education, employment, or training. | |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. | Indicator 13.2.1: Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. | Indicator 15.2.1: Progress towards sustainable forest management. |
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Source: usda.gov
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