Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Thales Alenia Space signs contract with ESA to develop an agricultural digital twin component for sustainable, resilient agriculture

27/03/2025

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

SaveCrops4EU leverages Earth observation and advanced processing techniques to create tools that support an economically and environmentally sustainable agriculture sector, in line with Europe's Common Agricultural Policy and the European Green Deal. Luxembourg, March 27, 2025 -Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead the SaveCrops4EU project. Part of ESAs Digital Twin Earth programme, this pre-operational digital twin component will enhance agriculture's resilience to climate change and support agricultural resource management.

Destination Earth ESA

The SaveCrops4EU digital twin component will be structured around three major scientific pillars:

Advanced monitoring using satellite data and agronomic indicators to enable real-time analysis of crop conditions.

Yield forecasting based on a hybrid modeling approach combining Earth observation data with crop growth models to estimate production volumes at regional level.

Scenario testing incorporating various abiotic stresses (such as drought and heat) and management strategies (including irrigation and fertilization) through a range of simulations.

Thales Alenia Space will lead the integration and overall architectural design of the Digital Twin Component, combining the various scientific models with the necessary Earth observation data and ensuring that the output data can be effectively used by end-users. A modular approach was chosen to support a wide range of use cases in which the Digital Twin Component could provide key information.

Thanks to an innovative combination of Earth system modeling, diverse data sources, and cutting-edge technologies, Destination Earth and its digital twins for example allow a wide range of users to explore the effects of climate change on the various components of the Earth system and assess possible adaptation and mitigation strategies. Several structural institutional initiatives in this area exist in Europe like Destination Earth (DestinE) funded by the European Commission or ESA Digital Twin Earth (DTE), funded by a large number of ESA Member States. The ultimate goal of these initiatives is to create a digital model of the Earth to monitor the effects of natural and human activity on our planet, anticipate extreme events, optimize resource use while minimizing environmental impact, and adapt climate policies accordingly.

As an ESA programme, DTE is in full synergy with DestinE and ensures that the pre-operational digital twins developed could transition into a larger operational system like DestinE, thus maximising their impact.

Real-world use cases for validation To ensure the relevance of technological developments, SaveCrops4EU will be tested through four key use cases in Belgium, Germany, Hungary, and Spain. These real-world validation cases will assess the accuracy of the models, their ability to anticipate weather- and climate-induced stress on agriculture, and their impact on local decisions by stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

SaveCrops4EU leverages existing solutions from the Destination Earth Platform and aims to achieve maximum interoperability with other digital twin components. The modular approach will ensure future scalability by enabling the easy integration of new models and addition of crop types. By the end of 2026, the project will provide a pre-operational solution supporting economically and environmentally sustainable crop management in Europe.

For several years, Thales Alenia Space has been at the forefront of innovation, developing enhanced digital solutions for Earth observation to enhance decision-making and support responsible climate policies. We are proud that ESA renewed its trust in our company with SaveCrops4EU, leveraging the legacy and experience we gained in developing the flood prediction digital twin in 2023, said tienne Barritault, Managing Director of Thales Alenia Space in Luxembourg.

A European consortium of excellence To lead the SaveCrops4EU project, Thales Alenia Space has formed a European consortium, with each partner contributing specialized expertise in complementary fields. The consortium brings together the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, the scientific lead, and the University of Valencia as remote sensing experts. It also includes Forschungszentrum J lich, specialists in bioscience and geoscience simulation, the Walloon Agricultural Research Center, and CropOM, experts in agriculture.

About Thales Alenia Space Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers innovative solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design and build satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies' Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion in 2023 and has around 8,600 employees in 8 countries, with 16 sites in Europe.

08 Apr 2025

U.S. Air Force awards NSPA F-16 Helmet Mounted Display contract for Thales Scorpion HMD

Read more

07 Apr 2025

Thales announces next-generation Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for resilient navigation

Read more

07 Apr 2025

Tha
LINK: https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press_release/thales-al...
See more stories from thales

Europe Stories

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

09/10/2026

Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026

September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026 New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...

07/10/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Media Operations from Ingest to Distribution

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...

06/10/2026

Warm Audio launch the Mod Series

Three new compact pedals announced Warm Audio have just introduced a new guitar pedal line-up that offers compact, pedalboard-friendly versions of some of t...

06/10/2026

WaveMachine Labs Drumagog 6 arrives

Drum-replacement tool gets major overhaul WaveMachine Labs have announced that the latest version of their drum-replacement software is now available, and i...

06/10/2026

Arturia update the AstroLab

Firmware update implements user-requested features Arturia's stage-going keyboard series has just received a significant update that addresses some of t...

06/10/2026

Adhoc notification: SGL Carbon reports preliminary sales and earnings figures for the first nine months and raises its forecast for 2026

(4:51 PM) Wiesbaden, October 06, 2026. Based on business performance to date, pa...

06/10/2026

Official trailer released for The Good Daughter ahead of its 12 November launch on Sky and NOW

Tuesday 6 October 2026 Official trailer released for The Good Daughter ahead of...

06/10/2026

Vocal intelligibility was outstanding Front of House Magazine reviews 6388 CORE+

Savanyu reports getting more gain from the sound system, which he credits to the capsules asymmetrical supercardioid pickup pattern. Even with less-than-ideal...

06/10/2026

RT to explore C.S. Lewis's Belfast roots in new documentary, The Lion, The Witch and the Ulsterman

Andrew Trimble delves into the author's Belfast upbringing Thursday, 8 Octo...

05/10/2026

Austrian Audio introduce the OC616

New multi-pattern LDC revealed Austrian Audio have announced the upcoming launch of a new multi-pattern large-diaphragm capacitor mic that occupies the midd...

05/10/2026

IK Multimedia Tonex 2 Player now available

Software gains Tonex Board rig support When IK Multimedia launched the Tonex Board, they mentioned that it would soon be followed by a significant update to...

05/10/2026

fedDSP release quadCHO

Offers a modern take on classic chorus effects fedDSP's latest creation has been designed to offer a modern take on the classic chorus effect, combining...

05/10/2026

FOX Deepens Investment in the Creator Economy, Expanding Leadership Team to Accelerate FOX Creator Studios

FOX Deepens Investment in the Creator Economy, Expanding Leadership Team to Acce...

05/10/2026

RT to provide comprehensive coverage of Budget 2027 on TV, radio and online

RT will provide comprehensive coverage and analysis of Budget 2027 across online, radio and television on Tuesday 6 October, with extensive reporting and analy...

04/10/2026

Shure's MV6 gets Gen 2 upgrade

Dedicated streaming mic gets an overhaul Following on from the success of their dedicated streaming microphone, the MV6, Shure have announced the launch of ...

02/10/2026

Roland update Zenology GX for iPad

v1.9.3 introduces AUv3 support Roland have just released an update that kits their free iPad-based software synth out with AUv3 support, meaning it can now ...

02/10/2026

MOTU Digital Performer 12 now available

Dolby Atmos support, AI-powered stem separation & more The latest version of MOTU's DAW software is now available, and marks a major step forward with t...

02/10/2026

iFi audio reveal the GR2 MT

Portable DAC created in collaboration with Steve Levine British hi-fi experts iFi audio have unveiled a new Master Tuned variant of their praised iDSD GR2 p...

02/10/2026

Inside the Pirate Ecosystem: How Illegal Streaming Devices Put Consumers at Risk

In our latest blog, Tim Pearson looks at streaming piracy from a different lens, focusing on digital trust, consumer risk, and the future of subscriber protecti...

02/10/2026

Ambient Orbit returns to RT lyric fm and RT Listen this Sunday for a ninth series with 12 new episodes

Featuring performances recorded in Cork, Kilkenny, Wesmeath and Dublin culminati...

02/10/2026

Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th prequel series, coming to Sky & NOW on 19 October

Friday 2 October 2026 Crystal Lake, a Friday the 13th' prequel series, com...

02/10/2026

Sky VIP helps families celebrate the Christmas season with 5,000 free tickets to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

Friday 2 October 2026 Sky VIP helps families celebrate the Christmas season wit...

02/10/2026

RT Investigates: Fertility Uncovered

How the fertility sector in Ireland remains unregulated Undercover filming reveals how without proper regulation the promotion of controversial fertility treat...

02/10/2026

DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland Returns for Series 5

Transforming Homes, Transforming Lives Presenter Baz Ashmawy and his team take on four life-changing builds across Kildare, Limerick, Wicklow and Offaly in the...

01/10/2026

Phoenix from Spitfire Audio & BT

Third collaboration with celebrated composer Spitfire Audio have once again teamed up with Grammy-nominated composer, producer and technologist BT, creating...

01/10/2026

Novation launch the FLpad

FL Studio gets dedicated grid controller Novation have teamed up with FL Studio developers Image-Line to create another dedicated controller for the popular...

01/10/2026

Volt Gen 2 & Volt Max interfaces from Universal Audio

Six new USB interfaces introduced Universal Audio's USB audio interface line-up has just been refreshed, gaining six new models aimed at musicians, prod...

01/10/2026

Siretta SNYPER-5G Shortlisted for the IoT Global Awards 2026

Siretta's SNYPER-5G cellular network analyser has been shortlisted for the IoT Global Awards 2026. The IoT Global Awards recognise products, services and o...

01/10/2026

Mesh Broadcast Services and Argo M - A Perfect Fit

Mesh Broadcast Services Fits Big-Truck Audio Power into Compact Eclipse Unit with Calrec Argo M Canadian OB company Mesh Broadcast Services has fitted its Eclip...

01/10/2026

X-Rite Pantone Launches Spectura to Advance Connected Color Quality from Lab to Production

X-Rite Pantone Launches Spectura to Advance Connected Color Quality from Lab to ...

01/10/2026

Nominees revealed for 2026 Sky Arts Awards

Thursday 1 October 2026 Nominees revealed for 2026 Sky Arts Awards Current slide, 0 0, undefined1 0 Irish National Opera and Jennifer Walshe: MARS Jacob Al...

01/10/2026

Vital TV antenna replaced at Sudbury

Vital TV antenna replaced at SudburyHelicopter and broadcast engineers work together to upgrade TV services for 1.5M in the East -- Share to Linkedin Octobe...

01/10/2026

Arqiva appoints Simon Duffy as Chair

Arqiva appoints Simon Duffy as ChairSimon Duffy joins as Chair effective 01 October 2026 -- Share to Linkedin October 1, 2026 Press Office 01 October 2026...

01/10/2026

The Boys are Back! The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In returns for Season 4

Season 4 of the multi-award-winning hit entertainment series The 2 Johnnies Late Night Lock In is back, serving up another round of unpredictable laughs, unforg...

01/10/2026

RT lyric fm's award-winning The Lyric Feature returns for new autumn series

New season begins Sunday, 4 October at 6pm on RT lyric fm and RT Listen RT lyric fm's arts and culture documentary series The Lyric Feature returns on S...

01/10/2026

RT Supporting the Arts is supporting 32 cultural events nationwide this October

RT is proud to continue its commitment to supporting and celebrating the arts across Ireland this October, highlighting a vibrant programme of theatre, music, ...

30/09/2026

Sync Audio release MegaMorph

Add an envelope generator to any plug-in Sync Audio's latest creation is a handy utility plug-in that can be used to combine and modulate other effects ...

30/09/2026

Strymon launch the La Brea

All-analogue tape-style drive joins Series A Strymon's reputation was built on their digital knowhow, so many were surprised (and intrigued) when they a...

30/09/2026

Sonuscore The Pulse: Synth Wave & Epic Atmospheres

Two new expansion packs released Sonuscore have just introduced two new expansion packs for The Pulse, its production engine instrument for modern cinematic...

30/09/2026

Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station Brings Professional Production Communications to...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

30/09/2026

SES and Sky Sign Multi-Year Satellite Capacity Agreement

Luxembourg, September 30, 2026 - SES and Sky have extended their long-standing partnership in a new multi-year agreement for direct-to-home (DTH) satellite serv...

30/09/2026

Harmonic Launches Recon Product Family Developed in Partnership with Comcast

New Solution Expands Harmonic's Network Intelligence Portfolio and Brings Comcast-Developed Fiber Monitoring Technology to Broadband Operators, Providing Re...

30/09/2026

Claire Brock and Sophie Morris discover how consumers can shop smarter in new RT documentary series

How to Shop Well Now starts Monday at 9.35pm on RT One and RT Player On the...

29/09/2026

Zynaptiq introduce Loud & Wide

Two new plug-ins launch alongside updated bundles Zynaptiq have just announced the launch of two new plug-ins, alongside new and improved versions of two of...

29/09/2026

Wes Audio unveil the ngOmniBox

All-in-one bus processor revealed Wes Audio's ng product range has come a long way since it was first introduced, and now includes a tasty selection of ...

29/09/2026

First Baptist Nashville Drastically Upgrades Production Communications with...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......

29/09/2026

CMA Imaging, Sun Chemical, and X-Rite Pantone Help Brands Accelerate Metal Packaging Color Approval

CMA Imaging, Sun Chemical, and X-Rite Pantone Help Brands Accelerate Metal Packa...

29/09/2026

SES Successfully Prices 500 million Eurobond

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN, OR AT ANY ADDRESS IN, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ITS TERRITO...