New PhilRice–PhilSA project to make rice farming more climate-smart

Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) have signed a memorandum of agreement to operate an eddy covariance flux tower that will support rice research and environmental monitoring.

The tower erected at PhilRice in Nueva Ecija can collect data on greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide and methane and monitor energy and water vapor exchanged between rice fields and the atmosphere.

Tracking the gases released during rice farming will help researchers better understand how rice production affects the environment to reduce GHG emissions.

“This gives us a more accurate way to monitor GHG emissions from rice fields. I believe this makes us one of the most high-tech institutions in the country,” Dr. Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, PhilRice deputy executive director for research, said.

The collaboration will integrate satellite-derived and on-ground data to support decision-making in rice production, GHG monitoring, and long-term environmental research.

Meanwhile, the Institute’s satellite-based rice monitoring system, Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM), will utilize the gathered data to support the development of climate-smart farming practices that benefit farmers, researchers, policymakers, and climate experts by enabling better decisions, policies, and solutions for sustainable agriculture. PhilSA will then use the data to improve the accuracy of satellite images, making space-based monitoring of farms and natural resources more reliable.

“We’re doing this to make rice farming part of the solution to climate change—not just a source of food, but also a model for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture,” said Elmer D. Alosnos, PhilRice researcher and project leader.

Space-based collaboration

Under the agreement, PhilSA will lead the installation, calibration, and data processing of the flux tower. It will also conduct research that combines satellite and ground-based data to better understand how rice ecosystems interact with the environment.

PhilRice will manage the tower’s daily operations and use the data to improve PRiSM, which monitors rice areas, forecasts yields and assesses crop damage. Meanwhile, the data collected by PRiSM will also help validate the satellite images taken by PhilSA’s MULA (Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment) satellite. This is part of a project called SatMAPPER-SOPRAnO, which uses space-based technologies to observe land conditions.

By comparing the readings from the tower with what the satellites see from above, researchers can correct any errors and create more accurate maps. These improved maps can help plan and manage rice farming more effectively across the country.

“This partnership is a significant step toward sustainable agriculture in the Philippines. This flux tower will measure the GHG exchanges, supporting PhilRice’s PRiSM project that uses remote sensing and geographic information system technologies to monitor rice areas and assess crop production,” PhilSA-Space Science Missions Bureau Director IV Reinabelle C. Reyes said.

The five-year partnership includes joint research, training, and capacity-building activities to strengthen the long-term operation and use of the flux tower. The ceremonial signing marked the start of these collaborative efforts, with both agencies committing to responsible data sharing and co-ownership of any resulting intellectual property.