EO4AgroClimate: Improving modelling of pests and biological control agents to adapt to changing climates

Agriculture is facing a period of unprecedented change. Under the most conservative estimates, global climate models have estimated that global temperatures will increase by at least 1.5-2 degrees C by 2050. Associated with this, an increase in the likelihood of extreme weather events, temperatures, heavy precipitation or prolonged drought periods are predicted globally. This will adversely affect both the production of crops and the biotic ecosystems within which they are grown. Even under the most conservative projections, changes in temperatures and frequency and intensity of rainfall is likely to have a profound effect on both the phenology of crop pests and diseases in addition to biological control agents. Over recent years the availability and quality of datasets which have been derived from Earth Observation (EO) sources has increased, both in terms of quantity of available data, but also quality i.e. greater spatial and temporal resolution. There is great scope to apply these data to agricultural purposes especially those related to the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.