By Staff Correspondent
The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) is leading the charge in promoting innovation in India’s agriculture sector by leveraging the power of space technology. With the global demand for food surging, sustainable and efficient agricultural practices are essential to meet this pressing challenge. IN-SPACe is committed to driving progress and improving the quality of life for people and communities by harnessing the benefits of space exploration and applications.
Space technology presents immense potential for revolutionising agriculture in India and beyond. By utilising space data, satellites, drones, and other advanced technologies, farmers can significantly enhance crop yields, reduce environmental impact, and optimise the use of resources. IN-SPACe is paving the way for such advancements by launching a seed fund scheme to support startups interested in exploring opportunities in the agriculture sector using space technology.
General guidelines for the scheme are available on the IN-SPACe digital platform (IDP), and startups with innovative ideas are encouraged to submit their applications online at www.inspace.gov.in. The application submission process will commence after the kick-off webinar for the “Announcement of Opportunities in Agriculture Sector using Space Technology,” scheduled for April 20, 2023, with the deadline for completed applications set on May 21, 2023.
IN-SPACe has identified several critical areas of opportunity in the agriculture sector for space startups, including crop production forecasting, crop insurance, precision farming, farming-as-a-service, autonomous harvesting, crop monitoring, drought and flood analysis, irrigation and water management, inland fisheries, pest/disease detection and incidence forecasting, sustainable development at macro and micro levels, and logistics and storage management.
IN-SPACe eagerly anticipates a surge of innovative applications that leverage the power of space technology to create a more sustainable and efficient food system in India. The details, including the application submission and evaluation criteria, are provided along with the announcement, and IN-SPACe is poised to be at the forefront of driving cutting-edge advancements in India’s agriculture sector through space technology. Stay tuned for the groundbreaking solutions that will emerge from this exciting initiative
