Remote sensing and food security: Monitoring agriculture, ecosystems, hydrology, food environments, and health outcomes

There are substantial challenges in providing safe, affordable, and nutritious food for a healthy and active human population globally. At present, instances of undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies are widespread and occur in the same communities as obesity – forming what has been termed as the ‘triple burden of malnourishment’. This triple burden of malnourishment affects the health of individuals, increases demand for medical services, and can reduce the productive capacity of a society. Concurrently, ecological and atmospheric conditions are approaching critical tipping points that will have a bearing on the ecosystems services that are required to produce our food. By 2064, the human population is predicted to reach 9.7 billion people – 2 billion more than 20201 . With this growth in population it will be increasingly challenging to address the triple burden of malnourishment and maintain or improve ecosystem services. This introduction serves as a brief overview of how remote sensing has been employed to inform decisions that will address these challenges.