2022 ended with a blast: WaPOR goes global and eLEAF is going to make it happen!
eLEAF continues the close collaboration with the FAO to delivery Water Productivity data to the WapOR data portal (https://wapor.apps.fao.org) for the coming 3 years. We got awarded the new WaPOR Data Production contract that includes some exciting changes:
– Global coverage at 300m!
– New partner countries in Asia and Latin America!
– Field-scale data at 20m!
Boudewijn van Silfhout, CEO of eLEAF: “The new WaPOR contract fits well in eLEAF’s mission of delivering reliable, high-quality data at scale for a climate-resilient world. Our collaboration with FAO pushes us to accelerate faster and further scale its technology. The open-access WaPOR database ensures deployment across the globe to support farmers, companies and institutions.”
WaPOR is a publicly accessible near real-time database based on satellite data that allows the monitoring of agricultural water productivity at different scales and is managed by the FAO. WaPOR is applicable in a variety of contexts, such as in the assessment of the irrigation performance of a sugarcane estate in Mozambique; the assessment of water resources in the Nile River basin (in a water accounting process); the monitoring of conflict impact on agricultural areas in Syria. Currently, WaPOR data is being used in Mali and Burkina Faso, in combination with local data, to assist transhumant herders in assessing animal feed production.
“This portal is proving of great use in ensuring that agricultural water resources are managed sustainably. Already in high demand, scaling it up to a global level is a challenge we are eager to lead,” said Lifeng Li, Director of FAO’s Land and Water Division.
“Water is the key enabler of the transition towards sustainable food systems and improved water governance is needed,” said Kitty van der Heijden, Director-General International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. That’s the reason we are keen to invest in knowledge and open data. We notice that the WaPOR has impact; it is increasingly used by both public and private sectors”
“Making WaPOR globally accessible is a very welcome opportunity and will bring enhanced information, including on trends in vegetation growth and water stress, to more farmers in developing countries,” said Jippe Hoogeveen , team leader for FAO’s WaPOR project.
Article FAO: Sustainable water management: Groundbreaking digital tool gets a global boost
