The SAFE Executive Board Meeting (EBM) was held on 28 August 2026, co-chaired by Dr J.V. Thomas of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Dr Shinichi Sobue of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The meeting discussed the progress of the SAFE Rice Monitoring Project, which supports the use of satellite data to improve the accuracy and timeliness of rice statistics and strengthens agricultural decision-making. The meeting reviewed the successful completion of the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) project, including its final workshop held at GISTDA in May 2026. Training activities using the INAHOR rice mapping tool have helped participating countries produce rice cultivation maps, while the ASEAN Food Security Information System (AFSIS) is now using the project’s results to further develop country-specific rice maps at the provincial level. The meeting also highlighted continued development of ISRO’s VEDAS platform, including new rice-monitoring applications. Discussions focused on expanding access to satellite data and tools and integrating multiple SAR sources including ALOS-2/4, NISAR, LOTUSat-1 and Sentinel-1, alongside optical data to improve rice mapping accuracy and sustainability.
Another key topic was the SAFE CH4Rice Project, which is investigating how satellite and field observations can support methane monitoring and measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) in rice production. Results presented at the meeting showed that satellite data can detect flooded and drained rice fields, while also providing information on planting dates, crop growth stages and plant height. Across study sites in Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and Bangladesh, around 80% accuracy was achieved in distinguishing inundated from non-inundated fields. The project is now moving towards larger-scale monitoring, while addressing challenges such as limited ground observations, dense crop canopies and differences between SAR polarisation and frequency options. Looking forward, the SAFE community will continue field surveys, improve and harmonise methane monitoring methodologies, investigate the combined use of multiple SAR bands and optical data, and work towards scaling applications from individual study areas to provincial and national levels. Discussions on common methodologies for methane MRV and carbon-credit applications will continue, including at APRSAF-32 in October. The availability of NISAR data was also discussed as an important opportunity to complement existing ALOS and Sentinel observations. Initial tests using NISAR S-band data achieved more than 90% accuracy for paddy mapping, while teams continue to assess how NISAR can contribute to rice monitoring and methane-related applications. Further field and drone campaigns using hyperspectral and LiDAR observations are also planned.
The meeting also introduced a proposed SAFE new project, the AquaWatch Regional Alliance, led by CSIRO, focusing on water quality and food security (aquaculture) across the Asia-Pacific region. A side event at APRSAF-32 is planned to further develop the initiative and welcome interested countries, with additional workshops and knowledge-sharing activities anticipated for 2027.
The next SAFE-related discussions will take place at APRSAF-32 in Bangkok, Thailand, from 27-30 October 2026, providing an opportunity to review project progress and advance collaboration on rice monitoring, methane assessment and emerging water-quality applications.