Do you have a green thumb? Growing plants can be tricky whether you’re on a spaceship or Earth. Farmers around the globe rely on tools and technologies that have roots at NASA. Over the years, companies large and small have partnered with us on specialized fertilizers, self-driving tractors and more.
Many of the agriculture technologies help farmers understand crop growth throughout the season and predict final crop yields with that data. Based on a NASA model, commercial software predicts corn production for farmers, ethanol producers and grain traders. It provides daily updates on the state of corn vegetation, incorporating nearly 30 variables including NASA satellite data. In many cases, these NASA-influenced farming technologies allow farmers to use water and other resources more efficiently.