Geospatial information for sustainable food systems

The Soil-Land-Water Digital Information System (SoLaWISe)

Countries face escalating environmental challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss, coupled with increasing food and water insecurity. These issues are compounded by the rising demand for food, placing strain on natural resources. Addressing these challenges necessitates accurate information and tools for effective resource management and agriculture. Outdated sectoral approaches make way for the need for integrated land use planning. Awareness of the interconnections between soil, land, water, food, energy, poverty, health, biodiversity, environment, and climate change is growing. Existing frameworks, like those at FAO, lack integrated crop-level information. The proposed Soil-Land-Water digital Integrated Information System (SoLaWISe) aims to bridge this gap. 

SoLaWISe aims to assist countries in enhancing the management of soil, land, and water resources, as well as improving crop monitoring. It utilizes advanced information and communication technologies, empowering stakeholders at various levels to adapt agricultural practices, choose appropriate land use and management strategies, and achieve higher and more secure crop yields sustainably while minimizing the impact on soil, land, and water resources in a changing climate.  

This includes conducting national consultations led by a group of experts, developing a methodological guidance document, producing crop suitability and yield gap maps for national priority crop, and creating a correspondent national toolbox. 

Aligned with national and global priorities in key areas, SoLaWISE, through robust collaborations with both local and international stakeholders, initiates with a comprehensive analysis of essential crops, their specific requirements, and the acquisition of regional geographic and statistical information related to these critical crops.