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Add to Preferred SourcesArgentina will develop satellite technology to increase the effectiveness of public policies for managing disaster risk and enhancing productivity with a $60 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The project will use lessons learned to build and launch the SAOCOM 1A satellite for the development and commissioning of the SAOCOM 1B satellite, which will be launched in March 2020.
SAOCOM satellites are for terrestrial observation and to collect data use a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) antenna that detect soil moisture and provide information in any weather condition or time of the day. The satellites will also have an image reception and processing platform with SAR technology, as well as the software and hardware updates required to download data generated.
This system will bring benefits for agriculture, territorial planning, natural resource management and climate change mitigation and adaptation, both in Argentina and in other countries in the region. It will also contribute to the advancement of scientific research and decision-making for productive and social purposes, with emphasis on promoting entrepreneurship in technological services with high added value.
The project is expected to increase productivity ‒ volume harvested per area sown ‒ of the most important crops in the country (corn, wheat, sunflower and soybeans). Aggregate returns are also expected in the medium term with the use of satellite information for productive purposes or for the prevention or management of climatic risks.
Original source: IADB
Published on 31 July 2019