The European Union (EU), through its space agency, the European Space Agency (ESA), is collaborating with Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to roll out an innovative satellite-driven agriculture project aimed at boosting food security before January 2026.
Hugh Briggs, EU Programme Manager for Agriculture in Nigeria and West Africa, revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He explained that the initiative, known as Copernicus Innovative Agriculture, leverages advanced space technology and digital tools to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“We have a new project called Innovative Agriculture, also known as Copernicus. It involves the EU signing a contract with ESA to work directly with NASRDA, given their technical capabilities,” Briggs stated.
Under the arrangement, ESA will provide technical expertise while NASRDA will implement the project locally. The core focus is to empower smallholder farmers with data-driven insights on soil conditions, crop suitability, and optimal planting timelines, all derived from satellite analysis.
The project is set to commence by the end of 2025, with final preparations nearing completion.
“Currently, ESA is in close contact with NASRDA, and we are almost ready to inaugurate the project in Nigeria. This should happen before January 2026,” Briggs affirmed.
Empowering Youths and Communities
The EU will fund the project while ESA and NASRDA handle implementation through capacity building, satellite data utilisation, and deployment of precision farming technologies.
Briggs emphasised that youths in rural communities will play a pivotal role. NASRDA will identify, recruit, and train these young people in innovative agricultural practices, equipping them with essential digital tools.
“They will learn soil testing, mapping their farms using geographic coordinates, polygon mapping, and crucially, how to interpret this data to know what crops to plant, when and how to plant them, and what is suitable for their soil,” he explained.
Seven Demonstration Farms and a National Tech Hub
As part of the rollout, NASRDA has earmarked seven ecological zones across Nigeria for demonstration farms. These sites will serve as practical learning centres for local farmers while simultaneously gathering satellite data to inform agricultural policies and extension services.
In addition, a state-of-the-art technology hub will be established within NASRDA to function as a national training and innovation centre. The hub will facilitate continuous capacity building and act as a central platform for sharing satellite-derived agricultural tools and insights with stakeholders nationwide.
Briggs noted that this initiative aligns with the EU’s broader commitment to harness digital and space-based solutions to enhance food production and agricultural resilience across Africa.
Credit: Nairametrics
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