On behalf of their respective institutions, RADI Director-General Prof. GUO Huadong and Belgium’s Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO) Managing Director Dr. Dirk Fransaer put their names on the Memorandum of Understanding on jointly implementing the concept report of the CropWatch science satellite constellation mission on June 23 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The event was witnessed by Chinese President XI Jinping and Belgian King Philippe.
According to the MOU, the strategic objective of the mission is to contribute to the world by taking on more responsibility to address global issues, such as food security, climate change and water crisis, and to leverage current global observation capacities to benefit the global society.
By taking advantage of a whole spectrum of new technologies, ranging from satellite platform, sensor design, to data processing and distribution and to marketing, the CropWatch science satellite constellation is to make technological breakthroughs in monitoring vegetation biomass, stress factors and its yield contributing factors using remote sensing.
To implement the mission, the two sides will soon establish a dedicated joint “CropWatch Taskforce” for taking practical actions of the CropWatch implementation work. The mission is supported both by the China National Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
VITO develops innovative technological solutions and provides scientifically based advice to stimulate sustainable development. Its remote sensing unit is one of the leading remote sensing institutes in Europe. RADI and VITO have collaborated in the field of Earth observation with satellites for more than 15 years.
A group photo taken on June 24 in Beijing.
(5th from left: Belgium King Philippe, 6th from left: CAS President BAI Chunli, and 2nd from left: RADI Director-General GUO Huadong).
