Crop Assessment: International Needs and Opportunities

In biblical times, prophets predicted crop status and recommended measures by which famine could be averted. The economic, social, political and environmental importance of crop production still dictate the need for large area crop assessment systems. To the extent that levels of crop production can be predicted with some degree of accuracy, appropriate actions can be taken by individuals and groups to buy and sell, to replenish or reduce reserves, to redistribute supplies to areas of shortage, to utilize alternative crop products for specific purposes, and to negotiate appropriate prices.