The Geospatial Unit at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is making significant strides in international collaboration, particularly in the outer space affairs field. Recently, technical officer Matieu Henry represented FAO's Geospatial Unit during a mission contributing to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The objectives included participating in the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (STSC) and strengthening collaborations with UNOOSA, UNODC, and IIASA.

The results of the mission encompassed participation in STSC, technical presentations, and meetings with several UN organizations. Key highlights include progress in joint publications with UNOOSA, discussions on the non-paper by the STSC chair on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and strategic meetings with UNODC and IIASA to explore collaboration opportunities.

Further exchange of views were discussed during the mission, highlighting contributions from various countries like China, USA, France, and Argentina. Notable discussions covered topics ranging from space debris management to sustainable development through space technology applications. Additionally, other agenda items, such as space for sustainable development and space debris, provided insights into the positions and initiatives of countries like UAE, Rwanda, and Canada.

The FAO's Geospatial Unit's engagements with UNODC and IIASA are outlined, emphasizing efforts in utilizing geospatial data for disaster management, sustainable development, and agricultural initiatives.

The mission highlighted the recent developments in global navigation satellite systems and the Geospatial Unit's commitment to advancing space-related research and collaborations. Overall, FAO's Geospatial Unit emerges as a key player in leveraging space science for global development and sustainability.