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Use of Earth Observation Data (FAO-EOSTAT)

FAO-EOSTAT
Launched in 2019, FAO’s EOSTAT project uses next generation Earth observation tools to produce land cover and land use statistics. Initially deployed in Senegal and Uganda, then expanded to 21 countries, the innovative approach supported by FAO’s Data Lab relies on free of charge Earth observation data, vegetation and climate modelling, as well as field survey data to build countries’ capacity to produce seasonal crop type maps, annual land cover maps that are standardized, accurate, granular and validated. FAO and its partners are now seizing the opportunity to expand the project to other countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to make agrifood systems more resilient and achieve Zero Hunger.
Resources

FAO has developed a number of online tools and resources to assist countries in using EOSTAT.

Map story
FAO-EOSTAT: EO data for Official Agricultural Statistics

Building capacity in Senegal, Uganda, Afghanistan, Lesotho

Map story
Land cover atlas 2017–2021 (Lesotho)

Monitoring and measuring land from space

Online tool
Land Cover Mapper online tool (Lesotho)

Interactive EOSTAT tool for exploring land cover and environmental indicators in Lesotho

Online tool
Crop Mapper online tool (Ecuador)

EOSTAT tool for estimating crop yield for different crops in Ecuador

Uso de teledetección en las estadísticas e informes agrícolas en América Latina. Estado de situación
2024

This report, a joint effort by IICA, NASA Harvest, University of Maryland, AMA, and FAO, focuses on assessing the adoption and effectiveness of Earth...

FAO-EOSTAT project training
2023

Launched in 2021 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the EOSTAT project uses next generation Earth observation tools...

Lesotho: Land cover atlas 2017–2023
2023

The NextGen-Atlas of Lesotho provides information on the land cover distribution at multiple geographical levels and across the time frame 2017-2022:...

SDG Awards 2025 Seal

 


 

Latest news
FAO collaborates with regional partners to advance the use of Earth Observation and Farmer Registries for Crop Monitoring and the production and validation of crop data (ESTELLA) in Africa
21/04/2026
FAO, with regional and international partners, has launched the ESTELLA training in Accra to strengthen the use of Earth Observation and farmer registries for improved agricultural monitoring and crop data in Africa. The initiative builds technical capacity across countries to support timely, reliable statistics for early warning, climate risk management, and evidence-based decision-making, advancing more resilient and data-driven agricultural systems.
FAO’s Earth Observation for Agricultural Statistics initiative scoops ICT Innovator of the Year award
28/11/2025
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 2nd 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.
Strengthening national capacity in crop monitoring systems in Zimbabwe
01/10/2025
Zimbabwe has taken a major stride in modernizing its agricultural statistics systems through the integration of Earth Observation (EO) technologies. This week, the country is hosting a training workshop organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), bringing together national experts for a hands-on training aimed at enhancing the country’s capacity to generate timely, accurate, and reliable crop type, crop acreage and crop yield statistics.

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Latest events

Rome (Italy)

GeoField 2026 Convening: Strengthening evidence for sustainable agrifood systems
16/06/2026

To strengthen the use of Earth observation (EO) and geospatial data to better understand the impacts of agriculture and climate initiatives, the...

Nairobi (Kenya)

FAO Statistics supports Kenya on the operational use of Earth Observation for agriculture
09/02/2026 - 13/02/2026

Last week in Nairobi, FAO and the ESA WorldCereal consortium, in partnership with UNECA and the European Space Agency -...

Virtual Event

EOSTAT Workshop | Advancing EO and AI Integration for Agricultural Statistics
07/04/2025 - 11/04/2025

This workshop is part of a structured series aimed at building capacity for integrating Earth Observation (EO) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agricultural...

Hybrid Event

EO-STAT workshop in Kigali (Rwanda)
16/12/2024 - 20/12/2024

The National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) and EO-STAT team (UCLouvain), in collaboration with FAO, are organizing...

Virtual Event

Webinar on Innovations in Agricultural Statistics through Earth Observation (EO) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
18/12/2024

The use of advanced technologies such as Earth Observation (EO) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how agricultural data is collected,...

Hybrid Event, (Zimbabwe)

Digitizing Field Boundaries in Zimbabwe
16/09/2024 - 29/09/2024

As part of the EOSTAT project, FAO conducted a field boundary digitizing activity in Zimbabwe from 16 to 29 September. 

Hybrid Event

Inteligencia artificial y sensores remotos para estimación del área sembrada de arroz y otros cultivos
13/08/2024

Conozca en qué consiste la metodología innovadora para estimación del área sembrada en arroz y otros cultivos mediante imágenes satelitales y el...

Chile advances in the development of an updated land cover and use map with the support of FAO
27/05/2024 - 30/05/2024

Within this framework, a consultancy was carried out by the Brazilian international expert Gilberto Camara, under the auspices of FAO.

INE Chile advances in the development of an updated land cover and use map with the support of FAO
27/05/2024 - 30/05/2024

Within this framework, a consultancy was carried out by the Brazilian international expert Gilberto Camara, under the auspices of FAO.

 

FAO's EOSTAT programme supports Cameroon in utilizing a Crop Yield Mapper
26/03/2024 - 27/03/2024

Modernizing agricultural statistics in Cameroon

Hybrid Event

EO for Agriculture Under Pressure 2024 Workshop
13/05/2024 - 16/05/2024

The European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission (EC), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and GEOGLAM...

Virtual Event

International Webinar on Earth Observations for Agricultural Statistics (EOSTAT)
18/12/2023

International Webinar on Earth Observations for Agricultural Statistics (EOSTAT): EO Data Cubes, Smart Classification Algorithms, Impacts of Disasters...

Virtual Event

EXPO2020 webinar series: Mobilizing Big Data and Data Science for the Sustainable Development Goals
27/01/2022

Expo 2020 - Dubai, the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, presents an immense opportunity to inspire, empower and drive...

Virtual Event

Workshop on strengthening the use of geospatial information for the production of SDG indicators
21/06/2022

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Digital Earth Africa and the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) are working together to provide capacity...

Virtual Event

The impact of EO for the 2030 Agenda | GEO Week
31/10/2022

This side event provided a platform for discussion of the road to 2030 to further create and promote integrated results at speed and at scale required...

Virtual Event

[FAO x Data Strategy] How to Use Earth Observation Data for Agricultural Statistics & SDG Monitoring
07/02/2023

FAO, in collaboration with the Data Strategy, hosted a webinar on the use of Earth Observation data for the production of official agricultural...

Virtual Event

FAO Webinar Series: Earth observation data for agricultural statistics
08/03/2023 - 10/05/2023

From 8 March to 10 May 2023, FAO's Office of Chief Statistician organized a Webinar Series on Earth observation data for agricultural statistics. The...

Hybrid Event

GEO Week 2023 and GEO SDG Awards
06/11/2023 - 10/11/2023

GEO Week 2023 took place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 6-10 November 2023.