FAO’s Earth Observation for Agricultural Statistics initiative scoops ICT Innovator of the Year award

Harare – In a landmark achievement for agricultural innovation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has clinched the coveted ICT Innovator of the Year Award 2^nd runner up at the 2025 Zimbabwe ICT Excellence Awards. The recognition honours FAO’s groundbreaking initiative, Earth Observation for Agricultural Statistics (EOSTAT), which is revolutionizing crop monitoring systems and strengthening national capacity for data-driven agrifood systems transformation.

The global FAO EOSTAT initiative supports countries in establishing EO-based crop statistics and crop monitoring systems. In Zimbabwe, it is anchored on the development and harmonisation of crop type and crop yield data collection practices. 

“This achievement is more than an award, it is a testament to FAO’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to advance Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. Through Earth Observation, FAO has strengthened national crop monitoring systems, enabling data-driven decisions that enhance food security, improve resilience, and support sustainable development,” said Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and Representative to Zimbabwe celebrating this achievement.

Focused on excellence, innovation, and real impact, the Zimbabwe ICT Excellence Awards aim to foster innovation, promote excellence, and acknowledge the transformative impact of individuals, organizations, and projects shaping the nation's digital future. In an era where technology drives progress, FAO’s innovation stands as a beacon of how ICT can empower communities, modernize agriculture, and contribute to our shared vision of a digitally empowered Zimbabwe.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to all individuals and organizations represented here today. Your presence speaks volumes about your commitment to advancing Zimbabwe’s digital future. The overwhelming response we received for this year’s ceremony is both humbling and inspiring,” said Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services in a keynote address at the awards ceremony.

The EOSTAT-Zimbabwe project, buoyed by funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB), was launched in 2023 to operationalize the use of Earth Observation (EO) data for agricultural monitoring, food security planning, disaster risk reduction, and assess the impacts of climate-related hazards.

Example of field boundary mapping generated through the satelite images 

The EOSTAT initiative is a global FAO programme that leverages satellite data and geospatial analytics to support agricultural monitoring. In Zimbabwe, the project is being implemented in collaboration with the Government led by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. Key implementation partners include the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZIMSTAT), the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA), the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), the Zimbabwe Centre for High Performance Computing (ZCHPC), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology (MUAST) and the Meteorological Services Department (MSD).

“FAO is proud to be honoured with this accolade for the EOSTAT initiative. This is not just an FAO achievement, but a reflection of the collective efforts of our partners and the unwavering support of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. Their ownership and commitment have been instrumental in implementing this innovation, which strengthens Zimbabwe’s capacity for crop monitoring and data-driven agricultural planning,” said Zwelo Ndebele, Zimbabwe Emergency Food Production Project with which the EOSTAT is implemented.  

This award comes at a time when the Zimbabwe EOSTAT initiative also won the global SDG Custodian Agency Prize at the seventh annual  GEO SDG Awards held in June this year. The GEO SDG Awards recognizes the productivity, innovation, novelty and exemplary efforts in the use of Earth observations to support sustainable development.

The EO-based crop monitoring system is being rolled out with a strong focus on sustainability. By embedding the tools and workflows within national institutions and building local capacity, Zimbabwe is positioning itself to generate agricultural statistics that are timely, reliable, and policy relevant. This transformation will support strategic planning, early warning systems, and climate-smart agriculture.

For FAO, this award for EOSTAT complements Zimbabwe's ICT sector efforts as the country recently completed and approved the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, positioning Zimbabwe as a regional leader in AI adoption and creating opportunities for leveraging AI across productive sectors.