Monitoring and verification of zero deforestation value chains through combining Artificial Intelligence and Earth Observation

The Copernicus program with its free satellite data at high temporal and spatial resolutions as well as satellite operators that can provide daily imagery, offer completely new monitoring possibilities. These new earth observation (EO) capacities make it possible to continuously monitor plantations and their surrounding areas with a high level of spatial detail. An EO-based system for the monitoring of deforestation at the origin of global supply chains requires very high standards in regard to the processing of large amounts of satellite data, which must also be processed quickly. Previous data analysis methods cannot meet these high monitoring requirements. New AI (Artificial Intelligence) methods are developed in this project with the aim of building a powerful monitoring and verification system for deforestation-free supply chains based on methods of deep learning. The goal is to support producers of agricultural commodities in documenting their zero deforestation commitments as well as to implement the system in the procedures of the audit and certification authorities.