GEO Global Agricultural Monitoring

Millions of livelihoods, particularly in smallholder crop and livestock systems in low-income countries, are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and socioeconomic pressures, including demographic growth and conflict. These regions are experiencing declining agricultural productivity and worsening food insecurity, exacerbated by the rising frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Agriculture’s sensitivity to climate variability leaves food-insecure communities especially exposed, underscoring the urgent need for effective monitoring and early warning systems. GEOGLAM plays a crucial role by delivering timely, precise data to support adaptive responses, leveraging local climate information and new technologies to help mitigate food security crises and build resilience.

GEOGLAM provides systematic, timely monitoring of agricultural conditions worldwide, focusing on areas at risk of food insecurity. Using Earth observation (EO), AI-driven analytics, in situ, and socioeconomic data, GEOGLAM delivers precise, actionable insights on crop conditions and production outlooks. This comprehensive, consensus-based, co-designed approach strengthens early warning systems, enabling governments and organizations to make informed, proactive decisions to reduce vulnerability to food crises. With continuous monitoring and improved forecasting, GEOGLAM’s Global Crop Monitor builds resilience and preparedness, helping mitigate agricultural risks before they escalate into crises, ultimately supporting food security and sustainable agricultural systems.

The GEOGLAM initiative empowers national governments, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders to take proactive measures against poor agricultural production and food insecurity risks. By delivering timely, accurate data, it enables rapid responses to avert crises, thereby reducing the risk to loss of life, economic instability, and food insecurity. Governments can better prepare for production shortfalls, focusing preventive actions on vulnerable populations to strengthen food security before disasters occur. Co-development of GEOGLAM’s monitoring systems ensures local ownership, enhancing their resilience and long-term sustainability. These systems are highly adaptable and provide cost-effective alternatives to reactive measures by enabling and improving preparedness and delivery of disaster emergency interventions, ultimately supporting long-term agricultural and economic stability.

From 2025 to 2030, GEOGLAM will strengthen global agricultural monitoring with a focus on food-insecure regions, especially in the Global South. GEOGLAM will extend the number of national crop monitoring systems, co-developing each with local partners to ensure alignment with national and regional needs. These efforts will provide previously underserved regions with access to vital agricultural insights to support food security and resilience to climate impacts, aligning closely with GEO’s Post-2025 Strategy. 

GEOGLAM will expand its digital toolkit, including mobile data collection apps to improve in situ data collection and storage, satellite-based monitoring platforms, and automated analytics systems to strengthen data accuracy and accessibility. 

In parallel, it will refine Essential Agricultural Variables (EAVs) and build technical capacity through workshops and initiatives. GEOGLAM will revitalize rangeland monitoring and introduce rapid-response services to its portfolio, enabling faster reaction times in emergency situations. 

In addition, GEOGLAM plans to leverage existing synergies, for instance by integrating certain services with other GEO initiatives, as well as explore new synergies, fostering a more cohesive response to food security and climate challenges. 

By expanding its network of partners, GEOGLAM aims to deepen its engagement with local governments, humanitarian organizations, and agricultural stakeholders. The goal is to empower these users with actionable intelligence that supports proactive decision-making and builds resilience against production shocks. To further ensure sustainability, GEOGLAM will work collaboratively to train local teams and embed knowledge, creating systems that can operate autonomously over time. 

Ultimately, GEOGLAM seeks to improve both socioeconomic and environmental outcomes. With timely interventions, it will help avert food crises, reduce economic losses, and promote sustainable resource use. By building a foundation for long-term agri-food system resilience, GEOGLAM will not only mitigate immediate risks but also contribute to the stability and sustainability of agricultural practices in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. 

The GEOGLAM initiative operates through a collaborative governance structure involving core partners, the Executive Committee (ExCom), the Co-Chairs, and the GEOGLAM Secretariat. The core partners execute the mandate, contributing through various projects, while the Executive Committee provides operational guidance with strategic oversight from the Co-Chairs. The Secretariat, led by the Program Director, coordinates program operations, reporting, and outreach. Thematic Coordination Teams (TCTs) and Regional Network Coordinators (RNCs) align activities across regions and themes. This structure integrates strategic, operational, and policy inputs, ensuring GEOGLAM’s effectiveness in global agricultural monitoring and food security.