Objectives of the service
MaizEO, initiated by Wasat Sp. z o.o., targets the enhancement of maize farming across Central and Eastern Europe by leveraging Earth Observation technology. This initiative directly addresses the critical challenges maize farmers face due to climate change and the rising demand for maize in agri-food sectors. MaizEO proposes a holistic approach to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of maize cultivation. The project is focused on fine-tuning of resource utilization, enhancing crop health surveillance, and delivering actionable insights to enable farmers to make precise, informed decisions. Through the integration of EO technology into daily farming operations, MaizEO aims to provide a solution that not only meets the immediate needs of maize producers but also contributes to the long-term viability and resilience of maize agriculture in the region.
Users and their needs
MaizEO is designed to cater to the diverse requirements of maize farmers, ranging from small, family-operated farms to large agricultural enterprises in Central European countries. These needs include the following:
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Precise determination of the optimal sowing and harvesting period.
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Precision seeding, fertilization and protection recommendations to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impact.
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Yield prediction and dry matter content analysis for better harvest planning.
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Advanced monitoring of crop health and prevailing conditions to ensure timely interventions.
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User-friendly access to near real-time data and historical analysis for trend identification and strategic planning.
Service/ system concept
The MaizEO service integrates satellite data, including high-resolution multispectral imagery from Sentinel-2 and SAR data from Sentinel-1, with local weather forecasts. This robust combination allows for detailed monitoring of crop health and environmental conditions. The core of MaizEO’s innovation is its ability to provide tailored advice from sowing to harvesting, all accessible through an intuitive web platform and mobile application. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, MaizEO delivers personalized recommendations adapted to the unique characteristics of each farm.
Space Added Value
EO data from the Copernicus Program plays a pivotal role in MaizEO’s service architecture. Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery is crucial for assessing vegetation health and identifying areas that require attention. Sentinel-1 SAR complements these functions by offering data irrespective of cloud cover. Together, these space assets enable a level of precision and accuracy in agricultural monitoring previously unattainable, demonstrating the indispensable value of satellite technology in modern farming.
Current Status
The MaizEO project was launched in December 2023. So far, comprehensive consultations with farmers and maize producers' associations across five countries were organised. These sessions have provided deep insights into the farmers' situations, their primary needs, and expectations. Additionally, these interactions have facilitated the establishment of promising business contacts. Engaging with potential users of MaizEO has enabled the successful identification of user needs, which were then incorporated into the service and system requirements for the proposed service.
The MaizEO service has now been fully developed and deployed in its pre-operational configuration. The System Architecture and all core components have been implemented and integrated into a cloud-based infrastructure. A comprehensive suite of functionalities has been tested and verified.
The Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) were successfully conducted, demonstrating compliance of the MaizEO system with the agreed system and user requirements. All major technical objectives have been met, and the system has been confirmed as ready for deployment to pilot users.
Concurrently, the Business Plan (BP) has been revised to incorporate updated market analyses and to reflect the latest developments and emerging trends within the agricultural sector.
On-Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and pilot utilisation are ongoing, with pilot installations in multiple sites.
