Cottonconnect: CottonConnect and Assimila Create C5 to Predict and Mitigate Effects of Climate Change

CottonConnect and Assimila, the Reading, England-based Earth observation consultancy, have embarked on an initiative to measure the effects of climate chang e among smallholder cotton farmers in Bangladesh by closely monitoring the earth and analyzing the findings. It is the first study of its kind to focus on the personal, firsthand experience of cotton farmers and pickers. Supported by the European Space Agency' s EO Science for Society Program, the project is called Combat Against Climate Change on Cotton Communities, or C5, and it explores how informed climate observations could assist decision making at important stages in the growing cycle. The goal is to help farmers mitigate threats to both their own health and the health of their crops. More from Sourcing Journal It will use images from Sentinel-2, a wide swath, high-resolution multi-spectral imaging mission to analyze conditions on the ground. It will investigate linking those observations and climate analysis to determine if the data can help farmers plan for climate change that may dramatically and adversely affect their ability to produce cotton. It will have two main elements: one, an index to help plan and manage farming activities by identifying health stressors, and two, a warning system that anticipates extreme weather and gives actionable information at key milestones in the cotton calendar. The plan aims to limit worker exposure to harmful heat, avoid risks such as flooding, and improve related activities like crop production and livestock breeding that are also affected by climate change. Information will be disseminated through text messages, radio broadcasts and outreach groups. Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, a social enterprise focused on reimagining the future of supply chains, said she is all too aware that smallholder farmers are already facing the impacts of climate change, and is hopeful the added data will help. "We're optimistic that access to improved forecasting tools will help them develop more sustainable cultivation practices by helping them understand, monitor and even predict the environment in which they are farming," she said. Assimila will provide the Earth observation and climate analysis while CottonConnect will facilitate data collection through its network in farm communities. The hope is that the C5 prototype will be a success and be rolled out beyond Bangladesh to other major cotton-producing nations. According to Assimila director Andy Shaw, C5 will generate a range of hazard indicators and alerts to keep farmers and workers informed. But not only will it provide timely state-of-the-art information on issues affecting the health of cotton growers, it will also help them adapt.