Geographical Sciences Faculty participated in the International GEOGLAM Program Executive Committee Meeting, hosted by the GEOGLAM Secretariat at WMO Headquarters, Geneva on March 21 to 23.

The agenda featured presentations by Executive Committee Members Inbal Becker-Reshef, Alyssa Whitcraft, Christina Justice and GEOGLAM Program Co-Chair, Chris Justice.

The meeting also provided updates on the current GEOGLAM initiatives and a discussion on the future directions and activities for the program.

GEOGLAM is a flagship program of the Group on Earth Observations focused on the use of Earth Observations for Agricultural Monitoring for societal benefit. The Executive Committee is composed of the Co-chairs, Co-Leads of the GEOGLAM Activities and GEOGLAM partners.

Partner organizations represented at the meeting included USAID FEWSNet, UN FAO, ESA, the European Commission, the Chinese Meteorological Agency and WMO.

UMD Faculty also shared updates and next steps on their current GEOGLAM initiatives: Inbal-Becker Reshef (the Crop Monitor and the Ukraine Task Force), Alyssa Whitcraft (Essential Agricultural Variables), Christina Justice (the Early Warning Crop Monitor and Capacity Building). Chris Justice (GEOGLAM Co-Chair) presented and led the discussion on Future Directions for the program.  

During the meeting, Christina Justice received the GEO Individual Award for Excellence, and the Executive Committee thanked Ian Jarvis (GEOGLAM Executive Director) for his contribution to the program in anticipation of his retirement in June.

Following the GEOGLAM meeting, Alyssa Whitcraft attended the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Land Surface Imaging Virtual Constellation (LSIVC) Working Group Meeting at ESA ESRIN and presented the GEOGLAM Essential Agricultural Variables.