UN-GGIM

This session illustrates the importance of geospatial information in, for example, calculations and indicators for agricultural and economic activity. The session is intended to discuss and demonstrate the important aspects of utilizing geospatial data to improve statistics on crop production/yield forecasting and the System of Environmental -Economic Accounting (SEEA). It is expected to demonstrate how the remote sensing data can be utilized to improve crop production forecasts for addressing policies related to food security and market volatility. Through effective utilization of the geospatial data, countries will have adequate information necessary to make earliest interventions to avoid crisis related to food insecurity and high/low food market prices. Moreover, the important use of geospatial data for improving the SEEA in general and land accounting in particular is well emphasised. Geospatial data are one of the data sources being used to compile the accounts, for instance in compiling land cover/land use accounts, for estimating ecosystem services such as carbon storage and sequestration (e.g. using NDVI), as well as measuring condition related indicators (e.g. water quality).

1. Presenters/Panellists:
   Mr. Steven Krekels, VITO, Belgium
   • Presentation
2. Mr. Mohsen Nabil Abdel Salam Ramadan, Chinese Academy of Science, China
3. Mr. Coen Bussink, UNODC
   • Presentation
4. Mr. Andries Potgieter, Queensland University, Australia
   • Presentation
5. Ms. Gabriela García Seco, National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico
   • Presentation
6. Prof. Miao Zhang, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences
   • Presentation
7. Moderator:
   Mr. Yakob Seid, Male, Statistician, Food and Agriculture Organization, Italy