By Claire Cheng

Replacing Sensors with Satellite Data: Keeping Up with the Global Trend of De-equipment in Precision Agriculture

In the past, precision agriculture relied mainly on sensors to collect field data. However, the costs of deploying sensors increase with the field area, not to mention the risks of damage and theft. Those factors all make the thresholds for farmers high. Many countries have entered the de-equipment phase in recent years, using satellite data to record and analyze crop growth.

Unlike other companies, which have resolutions ranging from 250x250 meters to 10x10 meters, DataYoo collaborates with top satellite companies worldwide, offering the precision and accuracy of a 3x3 meter resolution. FarmiSpace's service allows farmers to monitor their fields confidently with the most reliable satellite data.

FarmiSpace empowers small farmers to adopt precision agriculture with its affordable and flexible services. For less than TWD 1400 (USD 42) per year, they can monitor two hectares of field daily via satellite data and purchase advanced services as needed. This flexibility, combined with the expert-created Crop Books and AI crop recognition services, allows farmers to take control of their agricultural practices, maximizing yields and increasing trade income. Meanwhile, the carbon sequestration calculations service supports the farmers in facilitating eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture practices.

No Need to Submit The Data Record. Farmers Own and Manage The Field Data Digitally

In the past, building effective crop analysis models required farmers to submit data, raising concerns about the potential leak of their "business secrets". The problem no longer exists since FarmiSpace doesn't need to require farmers to submit data to the service provider. Additionally, farmers can transfer their field management processes to FarmiSpace, setting the area, crops, and dates for each planting cycle digitally. The platform automatically integrates daily satellite data, providing a clear overview of field changes.

Digital field management enables farmers to precisely monitor crop metrics, make scientific and systematic field decisions, and apply field data across various applications, such as integrating farm machinery operations. For example, drones can understand which areas need focused fertilization, and automatic irrigation systems can adjust drip irrigation for specific zones.

Another helpful feature is the advanced warning system. Farmers can set warning thresholds on FarmiSpace, which, combined with satellite data, can generate monitoring reports identifying pest infestations or abnormal crop conditions. The alerts allow farmers to take timely action before situations worsen, such as decreasing plant moisture levels or a high proportion of diseased plants.

Through daily satellite data, farmers can track whether crops are lacking water, assess their health, and monitor growth trends. They can also set alert thresholds on FarmiSpace to be notified when values fall below the set standards, allowing them to adjust field management and strategies accordingly.

International Case Study: Finding Survival Strategies in Drought, Helping Guatemala Save Half the Irrigation Water and Increase Yields by 10%

Leveraging top-notch technology, DataYoo received an invitation from the World Farmers' Organization (WFO) in 2021 to collaborate with local farmers in Saint Kitts and Nevis, bringing the watermelon yields increase by 27%. Amid global food security challenges and agricultural resilience due to climate change, this impressive result has drawn more international clients and laid a strong foundation for DataYoo's collaborations with experts and institutions across various fields.

Since 2022, DataYoo has partnered with Misión De Taiwán to establish eight weather stations in Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. They use experimental fields to show local farmers how to observe and analyze data to build sustainable and economically viable production models. DataYoo accurately monitors field conditions by integrating data from weather stations, soil sensors, and satellite data. Using their crop prediction algorithms, DataYoo provides professional analysis and technical consultation. In 2022, DataYoo developed a local broccoli growth model, identifying the optimal planting time to increase yields by 32%.

In 2023, DataYoo continued its collaboration with Misión De Taiwán and partnered with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to establish local corn growth models and carbon sequestration calculation models in Guatemala's experimental fields.

This year (2024), DataYoo continues to focus on Guatemala, using satellite data combined with drones to develop the most efficient irrigation and spraying methods. This approach aims to increase crop yields by over 10%, save at least half the water used, and reduce carbon emissions by an average of 560 kilograms per hectare, aligning with sustainable agriculture goals.

Guatemala uses a drip irrigation system to water crops. After DataYoo started collaborating with the experts from experimental field, they identified methods to increase crop yields through satellite data and differentiated field operations.

The experimental field project in Guatemala is ongoing. How has DataYoo collaborated with local teams to improve planting plans? Here are two key impacts.

Achieving Precision Irrigation and Spraying Through Data, Reducing Drought Impact, and Potentially Eliminating Famine Risk

Guatemala's dry season, from November to April, is exacerbated by deforestation and the El Niño phenomenon, making drought a significant risk factor for local agriculture. In such a water-scarce environment, optimizing the efficiency of drip irrigation systems is crucial. Thus, Guatemala's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nick Estrada expected DataYoo to mitigate large-scale drought and famine crises by improving the country's irrigation water management.

FarmiSpace did achieve the goal! After comparing the field data, DataYoo and agricultural experts found out that crops grow better in areas with higher moisture levels. However, the moisture on the field is uneven. Given the advice from DataYoo, the farmers concentrated irrigating in low-moisture areas, then increased the crop growth rates in these zones to 119%, 2.33 times higher than in areas without precision irrigation.

*DataYoo at the* *2024 AgriTrade exhibition, posing with Guatemala's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nick Estrada (fourth from the right).*

In the right image, Guatemala's drip irrigation system shows lower water absorption in the edge areas of the crops. The left image shows lower growth indices for these crops. Farmers can adjust irrigation in these edge areas to improve crop growth indices.

Data helps farmers monitor crop conditions in real-time, eliminating the need to constantly travel between fields to ensure crop health and significantly reducing labor and other farming costs. For example, by comparing crop growth indices in the experimental fields before and after pesticide application, the scope of localized spraying can be pinpointed, achieving precision spraying. Through this analysis and practices, DataYoo and the farmers cooperate to reduce the uneven growth state in the experimental fields from 33.27% to 7.52%.

The left image shows crops before spraying, and the right image shows crops after spraying. In early March, areas with lower growth indices became more uniformly distributed after precision spraying control.

*DataYoo maintains long-term contact with partners and farmers, discussing drone operations in the fields together.*

DataYoo's innovative and precise technology has left a deep impression on agricultural expert Dafne from the experimental fields. She believes, "FarmiSpace is the ideal platform for farmers who want to adopt technology, combining technological applications with traditional practices to help farmers stay competitive in the market." The intuitive and user-friendly platform allows farmers to easily understand the health status of crops at each growth stage and access vital information in real-time. Farmers previously relied on detailed field operation records and differentiated adjustments for each planting cycle to slowly explore ways to improve farming quality. Now, FarmiSpace experts use satellite data to establish crop growth models and reference monitoring data to accelerate iterative experiments in field differentiation operations, quickly finding cost-saving and yield-enhancing methods.

A group photo of DataYoo with agricultural experts from the Guatemala experimental fields. Dafne is on the far left, Josue Raxtun, president of Aliar Agricultural Cooperative, is second from the left, and DataYoo founder Shaw Wu is second from the right.

99.8% Accuracy in Predictions, Assisting Governments in Formulating Food Security Policies

Governments must ensure food security, which means providing everyone with sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. For drought-prone regions in Central and South America, DataYoo's predictive technology allows them to foresee crop failures, giving governments more time to assess food stock levels and decide how to allocate resources to cover food deficits or seek external aid. This plays a key role in stabilizing food security.

As a staple food, corn yields determine whether people in Central and South America will face famine. DataYoo's corn growth model reveals that corn requires the most water during its flowering stage, allowing them to predict that water shortages during this period could significantly reduce yields.

DataYoo boasts the world's highest prediction accuracy, with a success rate of 80% to 99.8% and an image recognition accuracy exceeding 92%, automatically identifying corn distribution areas. Even before human observation, FarmiSpace detects signs of drought and other field changes from satellite data, warning farmers and governments when corn yields may decrease below projections.

*DataYoo boasts a predictive accuracy of up to 99.8%, supports over 189 types of crops, and can increase yields by 18%-30%.*

Taiwan's First, Asia's Best: DataYoo Offers Diverse Precision Agriculture Solutions

Throughout Asia, no agricultural tech company like DataYoo excels in satellite data, crop algorithm models, analytical techniques, and practical field operation experience. DataYoo's services span the globe, primarily focusing on Asia and Central and South America, with partners including farmers, agricultural groups, farm machinery operators, and traders. Their rich and impressive experience earned them a spot at the 2024 WTO Forum. Establishing environmentally friendly and resource-efficient planting plans is a global trend toward precision and sustainable agriculture. DataYoo helps you keep pace with international developments, becoming your strongest ally.

Take the next step towards revolutionizing your agricultural practices. Join the precision farming movement with DataYoo today! Register now or contact our team to learn how our cutting-edge satellite technology and expert insights can transform your farm's productivity and sustainability. Don't miss out on the future of agriculture – act now and grow smarter with DataYoo!