By Myroslava Lesiv<\/a>, IIASA Ecosystems Services and Management<\/a>\u00a0Program.<\/em><\/p>\n
This June, the IIASA Geo-Wiki<\/a> team ran the Global Field Size campaign<\/a>, encouraging citizen scientists to classify field sizes on satellite images. Its aim was to develop a global field sizes dataset, which will be used as input to create an improved global cropland field size map for agricultural monitoring and food security assessments. The field sizes dataset can also help us determine what types of satellite data are needed for agricultural monitoring in different parts of the world.<\/p>\n
Geo-Wiki interface for collecting field size data. Background layer: Google Maps.<\/p><\/div>\n
Why are field sizes so important? They provide us with valuable information to tackle challenges of food security. A recent study<\/a> showed that more than a half the food calories produced globally comes from smallholder farmers, who often make up the most vulnerable parts of population, living in poverty. Within this scope, the field size dataset fills the gaps of missing information, especially for countries that have a limited food supply and lack a well-developed agricultural monitoring system.<\/p>\n