Key Takeaways
- LatConnect60 has partnered with Spire Global to enhance its platform with Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) data and Soil Moisture Insights.
- The partnership focuses on providing daily soil moisture readings, even in challenging conditions such as heavy cloud cover or dense canopy environments.
- Insights will support agricultural and forestry operations across Southeast Asia and Australia, enabling better water management and crop stress monitoring.
- Spire’s GNSS-R technology offers high-resolution soil moisture data accessible via API, aiding in climate-resilient agriculture and environmental monitoring.
- The World Bank highlights that investments in climate-resilient agriculture can yield returns up to eight times the costs, underscoring the value of actionable environmental data.
Driving Precision in Agriculture and Forestry
Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR), a global provider of space-based data and analytics, has been selected by LatConnect60 to supply GNSS-R data and Soil Moisture Insights. This collaboration aims to deliver actionable intelligence for managing water use, assessing crop stress levels, and supporting environmental monitoring in agriculture and forestry.
“LatConnect60 looks forward to working closely with Spire to make this combined capability easily accessible to our end users across the Southeast Asian and Australian continents,” said Venkat Pillay, CEO and Founder of LatConnect60. “We envisage tremendous demand for the insights that will be made available, particularly in agricultural or forestry areas that are not easily accessible for manual data collection.”
Enhanced Data for Better Decision-Making
LatConnect60 will integrate Spire’s GNSS-R data with its own satellite fleet, which includes optical imagery and shortwave infrared technology. This combination will create a comprehensive environmental monitoring system, providing customers with dynamic maps and dashboards to track water use, assess crop health, and receive daily updates.
Michael Eilts, general manager of Weather and Climate at Spire, emphasized the importance of the collaboration. “Predicting biomass growth and understanding soil moisture conditions are essential for building climate resilience. By combining our GNSS-R technology with LatConnect60’s analytical platforms, we are setting new benchmarks for accuracy in soil moisture data and comprehensive environmental monitoring.”
Soil Moisture Insights: A Game-Changer
Spire’s Soil Moisture Insights leverages its GNSS-R satellite constellation to deliver high-resolution soil moisture data with resolutions of 500 meters and six kilometers. This data is designed to optimize agricultural yields, manage environmental risks, and improve hydrological modeling. The product is accessible via API, integrating seamlessly into existing systems for applications such as drought forecasting, irrigation planning, and commodity price analysis.
Supporting Climate-Resilient Agriculture
The World Bank reports that investments in climate-resilient agriculture can yield returns of three to eight times the costs, highlighting the value of accurate environmental data. Through its partnership with Spire, LatConnect60 aims to empower farmers, resource managers, and policymakers with insights that drive sustainable practices and improve efficiency in agricultural and forestry operations.
