Philippines Partners with Space Agency to Enhance Climate-Smart Rice Farming

Strategic Insights -

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) have formed a five-year partnership to improve rice farming practices through climate-smart technologies. The partnership will involve the operation of an eddy covariance flux tower, which will collect data on greenhouse gases and energy exchanges between rice fields and the atmosphere. This data will be used to support decision-making in rice production and environmental monitoring. The partnership aims to strengthen the long-term operation and use of the flux tower through joint research, training, and capacity-building activities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The partnership between PhilRice and PhilSA will operate an eddy covariance flux tower for five years to support rice research and environmental monitoring.
  • The tower will collect data on greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, as well as energy and water vapor exchanges between rice fields and the atmosphere.
  • PhilSA will lead the installation, calibration, and data processing of the flux tower, while PhilRice will manage the tower's daily operations and use the data to enhance the Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM).
  • Researchers will use the data from PRiSM to correct errors and create more accurate maps, which will improve rice farming planning and management across the country.
  • The partnership aims to combine satellite and ground-based data to gain a better understanding of how rice ecosystems interact with the environment.
  • The collaboration will include joint research and capacity-building activities to strengthen the long-term operation and use of the flux tower.

Statistics:

  • The partnership will operate the eddy covariance flux tower for five years.
  • The tower will collect data on greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane.
  • The partnership aims to improve rice farming practices through climate-smart technologies.
  • 100% of data gathered by PRiSM will be used to validate satellite images from PhilSA's MULA project.
  • The data from PRiSM and MULA will help create more accurate maps, improving rice farming planning and management across the country.

Sources:

  • "PhilRice, PhilSA in five-year partnership to make rice farming more climate-smart".
  • Eduardo Jimmy Quilang, PhilRice deputy executive director for research.