Smart System for Monitoring and Estimating Carbon Storage and leakage in Agriculture Using Satellite Data – towards Carbon Tax for agriculture sector

Space Technology on Agricultural Fields – CO₂ Monitoring System

What we eat affects not only our health, but also the climate. Through a combination of science, agriculture, and space technology, researchers from the Institute of Geodesy and Cartography, led by Dr. Eng. Ewa Panek-Chwastyk, aim to show how agricultural fields can become an ally in the fight for cleaner air and a safer future. The scientist is a participant in the first edition of PRIME - a science commercialization support program implemented by the Foundation for Polish Science using funds from the European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) program. As part of the PRIME project, the researcher and her team - Karol Paradowski (Technology Transfer Manager) and Martyna Gatkowska (Business Leader) - will develop competencies in the implementation and commercialization of their research.

Dr. Eng. Ewa Panek-Chwastyk is developing an innovative system that, thanks to satellite imagery and artificial intelligence algorithms, will determine how agricultural fields affect the carbon dioxide balance in the atmosphere. This innovative tool aims to assist farmers in adapting their agrotechnical practices.

The project aims to create an advanced system for monitoring carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and absorption by agricultural fields. By leveraging satellite imagery, state-of-the-art mathematical models, and artificial intelligence, the system will enable tracking of carbon sequestration processes in agriculture - that is, the assimilation of CO₂ and its transformation into plant biomass. Thanks to this solution, farmers will gain a tool to assess whether their farms actively contribute to mitigating climate change. At the same time, agricultural advisors and public institutions will gain access to reliable data that will facilitate agrotechnical and financial decision-making.

The innovativeness of the project lies in combining satellite remote sensing with dynamically developing artificial intelligence algorithms. Instead of time-consuming field measurements, researchers can analyze thousands of hectares of fields directly "from space." What is more, the system has the potential to become part of official EU CO₂ emission and absorption certification procedures, creating new revenue streams for farmers and contributing to the mitigation of climate change impacts, such as droughts or floods.

As Dr. Eng. Panek-Chwastyk notes:

"The innovativeness of our project lies in applying satellite data and artificial intelligence methods to scalable monitoring and modeling of processes occurring across vast agricultural areas. This approach goes beyond traditional, point-based field measurements, while preserving their key role in validating the models being developed. By integrating satellite observations with advanced analytical algorithms, we enable near real-time analysis of the impact of agricultural fields on the atmospheric carbon (CO₂) balance. This solution, until recently considered futuristic, is now becoming a reliable tool supporting sustainable agricultural management and climate change mitigation efforts."

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PRIME is the only "tailor-made" acceleration program for the transfer of knowledge and technology for scientists and their research organizations in Poland, offering support for an individual commercialization path for innovative products. The program provides the opportunity to both develop competencies (e.g., training) and acquire practical skills (e.g., talks with potential recipients). For the authors of the best ideas, individualized support is provided to implement the chosen commercialization path. The PRIME project is financed by the European Funds for a Modern Economy (#FENG) program. The project is implemented by the Foundation for Polish Science (#FNP).