By Rorisang Modiba
- Dragonfly Aerospace in South Africa made the first commercial imaging satellite to help farmers around the world manage their land.
- The satellite takes daily pictures from space to spot sick plants early and help farmers use fewer chemicals on crops.
A company in Stellenbosch has built a powerful new satellite to help farmers grow better crops and save money.
Dragonfly Aerospace made the satellite. It is called EOS SAT-1. It is the first commercial imaging satellite built by a South African company.
The satellite is now in space. It flies around the Earth every day taking detailed pictures of farms and forests. The cameras are strong enough to show buildings and large vehicles, MyBroadband reported.
These space pictures help farmers plan their crops and check the health of their soil. Special cameras can spot signs of plant stress early. This means farmers can fix problems before their crops are damaged.
Using this data helps farmers use fewer chemicals and sprays. This saves them money and protects the environment.
A study in South Africa showed that using satellite pictures improved crop management by 33%. It also reduced chemical sprays by 8%.
Dragonfly Aerospace built the satellite for a company called EOS Data Analytics. This company uses artificial intelligence to turn the pictures into useful information for businesses.
The satellite can also track cut down trees. It can help manage natural disasters like fires and floods.
Experts say the satellite will help governments make better decisions to fight climate change and global food shortages.
Pictured above: EOS SAT-1.
Image source: Supplied
