NASA and USDA to increase collaborative efforts, including ag research

The USDA and NASA have signed a commitment strengthening the collaboration between the two agencies, aimed at increasing efforts to improve agricultural and Earth science research, technology and agricultural management, along with the application of science data and models to agricultural decision-making, according to a news release.

“From the heavens to the heartland, NASA and the Department of Agriculture are reaffirming our commitment to getting essential data in the hands of America’s farmers and preparing future generations to lead and strengthen America’s agriculture industry,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in the release.

The agreement affirms the USDA and NASA’s long-standing partnership on mutually beneficial collaborative activities that further education, communication and outreach to inspire the youth in America to pursue careers in STEM and agriculture, according to the release.

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What’s more, this partnership will build on NASA’s Bridge Program to foster workforce development partnerships with higher-education partners, including Tribal and Minority Serving Institutions and the USDA’s newly launched NextGen program, which is investing $262.5 million to cultivate the next generation of diverse food and agriculture professionals, according to the release.

Leveraging NASA to foster resilient food systems

“As the climate continues to change, NASA's Earth observation data will only grow more critical to our nation's effort to create more climate-resilient food systems, helping our farmers develop more sustainable farming and aquaculture practices,” Nelson said in the release.

The agencies intend to explore opportunities to improve crop performance to meet Earth and space-based goals, including activities in support of NASA’s Artemis program, which includes landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon and establishing long-term lunar exploration for preparation of human exploration of Mars, the release said.

"From ensuring that future generations are able to reach new heights as they pursue careers in STEM and agriculture, to providing producers with critical data and improving global agricultural practices, USDA is honored to strengthen our partnership with NASA,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. “We recognize the critical interface between planet-wide food security, climate change, and space, and together we are advancing cutting edge innovation, research, and workforce development to tackle some of Earth’s greatest challenges.”

Space exploration cooperation with the USDA includes plant-related research on the International Space Station and other space and ground platforms that have led to new ways to improve American and global agriculture, protect the environment and help improve human health, according to the release.

This memorandum of understanding will build on the partnership between USDA and NASA that first began in 2015. Examples of recent and ongoing collaborations, according to the release, include:

• The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and NASA, along with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, partnered to send 16 young people to NASA Space Camp in 2022.

• The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service and NASA created a free online tool called Crop-CASMA to help farmers and researchers use soil data to track droughts and floods, plan crop planting and forecast ag yields. USDA incorporates the data into NASS’ weekly crop progress reports to inform farmers and farm managers operational decisions and strategic plans.

• The USDA Agricultural Research Service and NASA scientists are developing a hyperspectral imaging system to monitor plant health for astronauts to use in plant growth chambers for their pick-and-eat crops — such as fresh salad greens — to eat during future space missions.

• USDA ARS and NASA are also teaming up to discover other ways to grow sustainable, fresh food during space travel, such as plants that have the potential to continually flower and produce.