EU, Nigeria launch satellite farming project to support smallholders, improve food security
The project will give farmers real-time access to soil and crop data, helping them plan better and reduce losses.
NIGERIA – A new partnership between the European Union (EU) and Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) will introduce satellite-powered farming tools to help Nigerian smallholders grow more food and manage their land more efficiently.
The project, officially known as “Innovative Agriculture” or “Copernicus,” is set to begin in January 2026. It will use satellite data to provide local farmers with useful information such as soil conditions, crop suitability, and ideal planting times.
The EU, through the European Space Agency (ESA), will provide funding and technical guidance. NASRDA will take charge of the project on the ground.
Dr. Mathew Adepoju, Director-General of NASRDA, described the effort as both timely and necessary.
“This initiative will not only support food production but also help monitor environmental changes such as drought, flooding, and land degradation, challenges that are becoming increasingly severe due to climate change,” he said.
Seven demo farms and a national hub
The program will create seven demonstration farms across Nigeria, each located in a different ecological zone. These farms will serve as training centers for farmers and also as data collection points.
A central technology hub under NASRDA will support the work by offering training, innovation labs, and digital farming tools.
ESA’s involvement ensures the technology is sound and up to date. They will share satellite systems and expertise, while NASRDA will adapt them to local conditions.
Rural youth will also receive training as “agricultural champions” and will be equipped with tools for soil testing and mapping.
The goal is to increase food productivity and strengthen climate resilience using technology. The project builds on Nigeria’s existing efforts in satellite agriculture, including the NigeriaSat series, EduSat satellites, and the CropWatch system.
Boosting food systems with smart tools
Speaking for the EU delegation in Nigeria, an official noted that the satellite farming initiative is “part of a broader EU-Nigeria partnership on innovation, technology, and climate resilience within the agricultural sector.”
Farmers will receive training on how to understand and use satellite data in their day-to-day work. The program also encourages better use of water, fertilizer, and land, helping reduce waste and improve yields.
Meanwhile, similar innovations are taking shape in Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, scientists from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have adapted NASA’s rover technology for farming.
By redesigning sensors and mobility systems, they built affordable autonomous vehicles that can monitor soil and crop conditions in real time.
“We saw that the core design of NASA’s rovers could help us address common problems in farming like water waste and crop failure,” said Dr. Irwan Rinaldi, one of the lead scientists.
“Instead of relying on guesswork, farmers now get real-time readings that help them act faster and more accurately.”
These new tools are already helping small and mid-sized farms in Indonesia manage water and fertilizer use more precisely, leading to less waste and better outcomes.
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