One of the key aspects in the global fight against climate change is methane emissions monitoring. Although industrial activities are responsible for the highest emissions, smaller sources like rice cultivation also pose challenges for the productive sector, which is why it is important to quantify them.
The project Satellite Methane Monitoring in Rice-Growing Regions of Latin America, funded by FONTAGRO and the Global Methane Hub, and executed by the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA, by its acronym in Spanish) of Uruguay, in collaboration with the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina of Peru and Conagro Semillas of Panama, aims to strengthen regional capacities for monitoring, reporting, and verifying methane emissions in rice ecosystems using satellite tools.
This project, now in its third year of execution and supported by FLAR, the University of Otago in New Zealand, the USDA in the United States, and IICA, brings together an interdisciplinary team aiming to benefit 1,500 producers and extension agents, as well as 150 researchers and 50 national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory officials, along with policymakers from the participating countries. The project also aims to indirectly impact 3,000 additional beneficiaries in other rice-growing regions across America, Africa, and Asia.
To share updates on this innovative project, on March 20, Cristhian Delgado Fajardo, an electronic engineer from the Javeriana University of Colombia and PhD candidate in Computer Science at the University of Otago in New Zealand, offered a seminar discussing the development of satellite tools for agricultural monitoring, integrating remote sensing and artificial intelligence to drive innovation in the sector.
Transforming Agriculture with Satellite Data
Satellite tools promise to be a game-changer in greenhouse gas monitoring due to their scalability and cost-effectiveness. In this project, two new technologies are being tested to measure methane emissions in rice fields: one based on in-situ sensors, and another using satellite images, an innovative approach for Latin America.
“The potential of these tools is enormous, as they can be used both by farmers to access carbon credits and by scientists to investigate the impact of mitigation strategies, identify unknown factors influencing emissions, and ultimately help develop data-driven policies that benefit everyone,” explains Delgado.
For this project, the InfraRed Gas Analyser technology was chosen for three main reasons: its wide dynamic range for measuring concentrations, its high sampling frequency, and the scientific rigor of its developer. This equipment provides georeferenced samples, which is key for comparison with satellite data. Additionally, it has multiple sensors that measure not only methane but also variables that influence emissions, such as temperature, humidity, and pressure.
“We thought it was essential to explore new methodologies, which is why we partnered with experts from various disciplines. Without a doubt, the ability to measure methane instantly will strengthen monitoring, reporting, and verifying management alternatives, whether for implementing incentive programs for carbon market entry or for advancing research,” said Álvaro Roel, researcher at INIA-Uruguay and project leader.
Roel also emphasized the project’s interinstitutional collaboration, as it brings together research institutions with funding organizations and regional coordination entities. This cooperation enables testing new equipment that would otherwise be too costly for a single institution to acquire.
“We believe this project’s contribution can be significant. By optimizing the monitoring capabilities of these practices through satellites, we will improve the accuracy of needs to generate more climate-smart rice,” concluded Roel.