Workshop and Technical Demonstration on Agricultural Monitoring using Space-based Earth Observation (AM-SEO)
Advancing operational agricultural monitoring through Earth Observation, data synergies and international collaboration
30 November - 4 December 2026
2-Day Workshop + 3-day Technical Demonstration & Tutorial
Hosted at : Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad
Organized by : Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), European Space Agency (ESA) and GEOGLAM
Description: The ISRO-ESA-GEOGLAM workshop will bring together Indian and international Earth Observation, agriculture, policy, operational and private-sector communities to strengthen space-based agricultural monitoring, data synergies and operational decision support.
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About the Event
The Workshop and Technical Demonstration on Agricultural Monitoring using Space-based Earth Observation (AM-SEO) is being jointly organized by ISRO, ESA and GEOGLAM at the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad, during 30 November–4 December 2026. The workshop aims to promote the use of space-based Earth Observation for operational agricultural monitoring, crop condition assessment, early warning, food security analysis and agricultural decision support. It will bring together space agencies, national and international agricultural monitoring institutions, researchers, policy stakeholders, user departments, private sector organizations and technology developers to exchange knowledge, share operational experiences and identify future collaboration opportunities.
The programme will cover recent advances in satellite missions, multi-sensor data integration, crop monitoring systems, crop-type mapping, yield estimation, drought and stress assessment, validation approaches, in-situ data integration, data harmonization and research-to-operations pathways. It will also provide a platform to discuss the role of public agencies, academia, international initiatives and private sector partners in strengthening agricultural monitoring systems at national, regional and global scales. The first two days will include open workshop sessions focusing on institutional programmes, operational systems, satellite-data synergies, emerging research, private sector capabilities and renewed engagement with GEOGLAM activities and working groups. The following three days will include technical demonstrations and hands-on sessions by ISRO and ESA/WorldCereal on EO data processing, crop mapping workflows, agricultural indicators, dashboarding, interoperability and operational use cases.
The workshop is expected to enhance technical capacity, strengthen collaboration, encourage knowledge exchange and support the development of robust, scalable and harmonized EO-based agricultural monitoring systems.
Objectives
- Share updates on Indian and international space EO-based agricultural monitoring programmes.
- Review operational systems, satellite missions and data synergies for agriculture.
- Discuss research-to-operation pathways, interoperability, validation and in-situ integration.
- Strengthen Indian participation in GEOGLAM activities, networks and working groups.
- Encourage dialogue among public agencies, academia, private sector and user communities.
- Build capacity through technical demonstrations, tutorials and knowledge exchange.
Who Should Attend
- Scientists, researchers and students working in Earth Observation and agriculture.
- Operational agencies, MNCFC, ICAR institutions, universities and national/state remote sensing centres.
- State agriculture departments, policy stakeholders and programme managers.
- Agri-tech companies, start-ups, NewSpace/EO firms and private-sector innovators.
- Practitioners interested in crop monitoring, crop area/yield estimation, early warning and agricultural analytics.
Workshop & Tutorial Format
30 November – 1 December 2026 : Open workshop
2 – 4 December 2026 : Technical demonstrations & training by ISRO & ESA
Workshop Themes
- Operational agricultural monitoring and crop condition assessment.
- Multi-mission satellite data for agriculture: Indian EO missions, ESA/Copernicus missions and complementary international datasets.
- Crop type mapping, crop condition, stress and yield analytics.
- Early warning systems, food security monitoring, drought/risk analytics and seasonal outlook support.
- Research-to-operation pathways, scalable processing systems and institutional adoption.
- Data harmonization, interoperability, cloud platforms, validation and in-situ data integration.
- Capacity development, GEO Knowledge Hub, JECAM/Asia-Rice linkages and re-engagement with GEOGLAM working groups.
- Private-sector and start-up capabilities in EO-based agricultural monitoring.
Programme at a Glance
Date/Day
Session Type
Indicative Content
Day 1: 30 November 2026
Open Workshop
Opening session; ISRO, ESA and GEOGLAM perspectives; operational agricultural monitoring systems; satellite missions and data synergies; research-to-operation pathways; private-sector capabilities.
Day 2: 1 December 2026
Open Workshop
Revitalizing Indian participation in GEOGLAM; Essential Agricultural Variables (EAVs); JECAM opportunities; in-situ data integration; validation frameworks; capacity development; GEO Knowledge Hub; panel interactions; workshop summary.
Day 3: 2 December 2026
ISRO Technical Demonstration & Tutorial
Demonstrations on Indian EO data and tools for agricultural monitoring, crop estimation, dashboarding, crop condition indicators and early warning use cases.
Day 4: 3 December 2026
ESA / WorldCereal Technical Demonstration & Tutorial
Hands-on sessions on EO data processing, crop-type mapping, reference data, global crop products and product-generation workflows
Day 5: 4 December 2026
ESA / ISRO Continuation and Wrap-up
Integrated workflows, advanced use cases, discussion on interoperability, feedback, next steps and wrap-up recommendations.
Detailed Provisional Agenda
30 November 2026 - Day 1: Open Workshop
- Opening session: welcome, workshop context, strategic perspectives and institutional priorities.
- Programme perspectives from ISRO, ESA and GEOGLAM.
- Operational agricultural monitoring systems: ISRO operational systems, ESA-supported systems, MNCFC monitoring systems and Krishi-DSS, GEOGLAM Crop Monitor and early warning systems.
- Satellite missions and data synergies: Indian EO missions for agriculture, ESA/Copernicus missions for agriculture and complementary international missions.
- Research to operations: scientific advances, thematic research presentations, operational uptake and open discussion on data access, harmonization and interoperability.
- Examples of private-sector capabilities in agricultural monitoring and agri-analytics.
- Day summary and key takeaways.
1 December 2026 - Day 2: Open Workshop
- Revitalizing Indian participation in GEOGLAM activities.
- Overview of GEOGLAM working groups and potential Indian contributions.
- Essential Agricultural Variables (EAVs), JECAM re-engagement opportunities, in-situ data integration and validation frameworks.
- Capacity development, GEO Knowledge Hub, Asia-Rice linkages and knowledge-exchange opportunities.
- Panel discussion on community priorities involving EO scientists, operational agencies, policy stakeholders, agri-economics/user agencies and private-sector participants.
- Workshop summary, key outcomes, follow-up actions and formal close of the open workshop.
2-4 December 2026 - Days 3-5: Technical Demonstrations & Tutorial
- Day 3: ESA / WorldCereal technical sessions on EO data processing, crop-type mapping and product generation.
- Day 4: ISRO technical demonstrations on Indian EO data, crop monitoring, crop estimation systems, dashboards and early warning workflows.
- Day 5: ESA / ISRO continuation, advanced workflows, integration exercises, feedback, discussion of implementation use cases and wrap-up.
Technical Demonstrations and Tutorials
Focus Areas
- Crop monitoring and crop-mapping workflows
- Multi-mission EO data integration for agriculture
- Dashboarding, indicators and analytics
- Interoperability, harmonization and data access
- Validation support and operational use cases
Expected Outcomes
- Stronger India–international EO collaboration
- Identified community priorities
- Shared technical knowledge and demonstrations
- Follow-up actions for future GEOGLAM engagement
Organizing Committee
Patron
- V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO & Secretary, Department of Space
- Josef Aschbacher, Director General, European Space Agency
- Chris Justice, GEOGLAM Co-Chair; University of Maryland
Co-Patron
- Shri Somya S Sarkar, Director, SAC, Ahmedabad
- Prakash Chauhan, Director, NRSC, Hyderabad
- M Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO, Bengaluru
- Ms. Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation Programmes, ESA
Programme Coordination & Advisory Committee
- Zoltan Szantoi, ESA - Member
- Giuseppe Ottavianelli, ESA - Member
- Jinesh Ramachandran, ESA - Member
- JV Thomas, Director, EDPO, ISRO HQ - Member
- Rashmi Sharma, SAC - Member
- Sven Gilliams, GEOGLAM - Member
- Shinichie, JAXA - Member
- Soumya Bandyopadhyay, MNCFC - Member
- VM Chowdary, NRSC - Member
- Bhaskar Nikam, ISRO HQ - Member
- Girish S Pujar, NRSC, ISRO - Member
- Karun K Choudhury, NRSC - Member
- Rahul Nigam, SAC - Member
- Representative of ICAR - Member
- Bimal K Bhattacharya, SAC - Convener
- Jeroen Degerickx, WorldCereal/VITO - Member
Registration / Nomination
Participation in the open workshop during 30 November – 1 December 2026 is proposed for invited and registered participants from national and international agencies, academia, research institutions, operational agricultural monitoring programmes, state departments, agri-tech companies and user communities.
The technical demonstrations and tutorials during 2 – 4 December 2026 are expected to be by invitation only, with limited seats to ensure effective hands-on training. Detailed nomination guidelines, eligibility, venue instructions and deadlines will be announced through the official circular.
Venue and Location Maps
SAC Main Campus
Space Applications Centre, Jodhpur Tekra, Ambawadi Vistar P.O., Ahmedabad – 380015.
OpenStreetMap tile showing SAC Main campus
Google map: SAC Main Campus – Google Maps search
SAC Bopal Technical Campus
Space Applications Centre (Bopal Technical Campus), Bopal-Shilaj Road / Opposite DPS School, Bopal, Ahmedabad – 380058.
OpenStreetMap tile showing SAC Bopal campus
Google map: SAC Bopal Campus – Google Maps search
Accommodation
| Hotel | Address | Contact | Suggested note for website | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novotel Ahmedabad | Iscon Cross Roads, next to Wide Angle Cinema, S. G. Highway, Ahmedabad - 380015 | +91 79 6906 6060; H8173-RE@accor.com | Convenient option on SG Highway; useful for participants needing access toward Satellite/Bopal and industrial corridors. | Business Travel Hotel-Novotel Ahmedabad - ALL |
| Le Meridien Ahmedabad | Ramdev Nagar Cross Road, Satellite, Ahmedabad, Gujarat - 380015 | +91 79 66185000 | Premium hotel in Satellite/Ramdevnagar area; suitable for invited guests and international participants. | Le Méridien Ahmedabad | Upscale Modern Hotel |
| ITC Narmada, Ahmedabad | Survey #104 A, Judges Bunglow Road, Ahmedabad - 380015 | +91 79 69664000 | Luxury option in the Judges Bungalow/Vastrapur-Satellite belt; close to key city locations and business districts. | ITC Narmada Ahmedabad: 5 Star Hotels in Gujarat - ITC Hotels |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Ahmedabad | Ambli Bopal Road, Vikram Nagar, Ahmedabad - 380054 | Hilton reservation/contact via official website | Useful for participants whose activities are at or near Bopal campus; located on Ambli-Bopal Road off SG Highway. | DoubleTree Ahmedabad-India Hotel |
| Renaissance Ahmedabad Hotel | Behind Ganesh Meridian Complex, Sola Road, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Ahmedabad - 380060 | +91 79 40005000 | SG Highway option with access toward GIFT City, airport corridor and western Ahmedabad. | Renaissance Ahmedabad Hotel | Upscale Marriott Bonvoy Hotel |
| Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad | 17/A, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad - 380014, Gujarat, India | Hyatt official booking/contact channels | Riverfront/Ashram Road option with access to the airport, riverfront and central Ahmedabad. | Luxury Rooms and Accommodation in Ahmedabad at Hyatt Ahmedabad |
| Taj Skyline Ahmedabad | Sankalp Square III, Sindhu Bhavan, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad - 380059 | +91 79 40400000; reservations.ahmedabad@tajhotels.com | Luxury option near Sindhu Bhavan/Bodakdev, with access toward SG Highway and Bopal/Satellite side. | Taj Skyline, Ahmedabad - Luxury Hotel in Ahmedabad | Taj Hotels |
About Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s largest city and India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, combines a rich architectural legacy with modern infrastructure, vibrant public spaces and a strong tradition of innovation. Situated on the banks of the Sabarmati River, the city offers visitors a distinctive blend of history, culture, science, spirituality and contemporary urban development. Participants may explore Sabarmati Riverfront, Atal Bridge, Sidi Saiyed Jali, Gandhi/Sabarmati Ashram, Science City and other cultural attractions depending on time and local travel arrangements.
Sabarmati Riverfront
A signature urban waterfront along the Sabarmati River, developed with landscaped promenades, gardens and public spaces. It offers an attractive setting for walking, recreation and evening views of Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad cityscape and Sabarmati Riverfront.
Atal Bridge
This colourful pedestrian bridge links the eastern and western promenades of the Sabarmati Riverfront. Inspired by the city’s kite-flying tradition, it provides panoramic river and skyline views.
Ellis Bridge
One of Ahmedabad’s best-known heritage landmarks, Ellis Bridge represents the city’s early modern engineering history. The historic steel structure remains an enduring visual symbol of old Ahmedabad.
Sabarmati Ashram
Located on the banks of the Sabarmati, the ashram was Mahatma Gandhi’s home and a major centre of India’s freedom movement. Its quiet campus, museum and archives preserve the ideals of truth, non-violence and simple living.
Historic site associated with Mahatma Gandhi and India’s freedom movement.
Gujarat Science City
Modern science, education and public outreach venue in Ahmedabad.
An interactive science and education complex designed to make science engaging through exhibitions, demonstrations and immersive experiences. Major attractions include thematic galleries, large-format theatres and hands-on learning spaces.
Swaminarayan Akshardham, Gandhinagar
Situated in nearby Gandhinagar, Akshardham is renowned for its intricately carved stone architecture, landscaped gardens and exhibitions on Indian culture and spiritual values. It is a prominent cultural attraction within easy reach of Ahmedabad.
AksharDham
Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar
Mahatma mandir
Mahatma Mandir is a modern convention and exhibition complex in Gandhinagar, conceived as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Its distinctive architecture and large event facilities make it an important venue for national and international gatherings.
Sidi Saiyyed Mosque – Iconic Stone Jali
The Sidi Saiyyed Mosque is renowned for its exquisitely carved stone lattice windows, especially the celebrated “Tree of Life” jali, a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture. The intricate geometric and floral patterns reflect Ahmedabad’s rich craftsmanship and have become one of the city’s most recognizable heritage symbols.
About ISRO, SAC, ESA and GEOGLAM
About ISRO
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is India’s national space agency under the Department of Space. ISRO develops space systems and applications for national development, including communication, navigation, meteorology, disaster management, natural resources management and Earth Observation applications.
About Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO
Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad is a major ISRO centre with activities spread across two campuses. SAC designs and develops space-borne and airborne instruments and payloads, signal and image processing systems, GIS applications and EO solutions for agriculture, environment, climate change, oceanography, atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere and related national applications.
About ESA
The European Space Agency (ESA) is a major international space agency and a world leader in Earth observation, developing and operating space missions and EO programmes that support scientific understanding, environmental monitoring, policy making and operational services.
About GEOGLAM
The Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring initiative (GEOGLAM) strengthens the use of Earth Observation for agricultural monitoring and food security. Its operational agriculture-monitoring activities span global, regional and national levels, connecting space agencies, monitoring systems, governments, agricultural organizations and universities.
About ESA WorldCereal
ESA WorldCereal provides global crop-mapping products and services and supports the generation of cropland and crop-type information, including workflows that are relevant to operational agricultural monitoring and data-sparse regions.
Travel and Visitor Information
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is the main airport serving Ahmedabad. Participants should plan adequate travel time because traffic conditions vary by time of day.
- Ahmedabad Junction and Sabarmati railway stations provide rail connectivity; local taxis and app-based transport are widely used.
- SAC entry is security regulated. Participants should carry a government-issued photo ID/passport and follow instructions in the official nomination/confirmation email.
- Technical demonstration participants should bring a laptop if specified by the organizers; software/platform credentials and system requirements will be communicated separately.
- Weather in late November/early December is generally comfortable for travel; participants may still check current weather before departure.
Important Notes
1. Please note that the organizers do not provide travel support for attending the workshop.
2. Detailed programme, final organizing committee, registration / nomination process and contact details will be announced in the official circular.
For any query, please contact the following:
- Event Query: am_seo@sac.isro.gov.in
- Meghavi Prashnani – meghavi@umd.edu
- Bimal K Bhattacharya – bkbhattacharya@sac.isro.gov.in
- Venue Host: Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad
30 November - 1 December - Open Workshop
Open Workshop
2 December - Technical Demonstration - Invitation Only
ESA/WorldCereal
Hands-on sessions on EO data processing, crop-type mapping and product generation.
3 December - Technical Demonstration - Invitation Only
ISRO
Demonstrations on Indian EO data and tools for agricultural monitoring and early warning.
4 December - Technical Demonstration - Invitation Only
ESA/ISRO – Continuation & Wrap-up
Integrated workflows, advanced use cases and wrap-up discussions.