China to Monitor Global Grain Production Using Remote Sensing TechnologyChinese scientists will monitor global grain production and issue output forecasts using satellite remote sensing technology.Guo Huadong, director of the Institute of Remote Sensing applications under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), told reporters Wednesday that they have successfully monitored the process of wheat, rice, corn and soybean growth and forecast the national outputs. Guo said it is quite necessary for China to gather information on global grain production so that Chinese farmers and agriculture departments are able to make the right decisions on grain production, trade and storage. He explained that China's accession to the World Trade Organization will give Chinese farmers more exposure to global competition in farming products, therefore, the monitoring of global grain production and issuing of grain output forecasts is of great economic and political importance. Experts at the CAS are capable of gathering information on the growth of grains in China once every 10 days, and issuing output forecasts a week before they are harvested. The information is normally submitted to government departments through a computer network. During a visit to the institute last month, experts from the Agriculture Department of the United States and European Union said the monitoring and forecast system developed by the institute is unique in some respects. |
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