Dr. Becker-Reshef Speaks Food Security at UN General Assembly Scientific Briefings

Dr. Inbal Becker-Reshef, Director of NASA Harvest, gave an invited presentation entitled ‘Satellite Data for a More Food Secure World’ at the United Nations General Assembly Scientific Briefing on Food Security and Sustainability Transformation on April 12 at the UN Headquarters in New York. Her presentation was part of a briefing given by scientists and academics and convened by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, with the aim of focusing on science-based evidence in support of sustainable solutions on the topics of Beyond GDP, Food Security and a Scientific Support System for the UN.

Dr. Becker-Reshef, joined by Harvest Chief Scientist Dr. Christopher Justice, explains how satellite data provides insights on global crop production, farming practices, agricultural supply chains, and market stability in light of Earth's dynamic landscape.

Becker-Reshef’s presentation included results from Harvest's rapid response activities and emphasized the need for: 1) co-development of user-led systems development to build sustained capacity within national research & government institutions; 2) innovation in Public-Private partnerships across academia, government and industry, and; 3) increased Research and Development on small holder systems, increasing the accessibility of data to medium and small holders. Her presentation was followed by a panel discussion session with Rikin Gandhi, CEO of Digital Green, Corinna Hawkes, Director of FAO’s Food Systems and Food Safety Division, Ravi Kanbur, Co-Chair of the Food Systems Economics Commission and Olav Kjørven, Senior Director for Strategy, EAT Foundation. The session provided input to the UN in the run-up to the Food Systems Stock Take planned for July this year in Rome.