Drones and Geographical Information Technologies in Agroecology and Organic Farming

Although organic farming and agroecology are normally not associated with the use of new technologies, it's rapid growth, new technologies are being adopted to mitigate environmental impacts of intensive production implemented with external material and energy inputs. GPS, satellite images, GIS, drones, help conventional farming in precision supply of water, pesticides, fertilizers. Prescription maps define the right place and moment for interventions of machinery fleets. Yield goal remains the key objective, integrating a more efficient use or resources toward an economic-environmental sustainability. Technological smart farming allows extractive agriculture entering the sustainability era. Societies that practice agroecology through the development of human-environmental co-evolutionary systems represent a solid model of sustainability. These systems are characterized by high-quality agroecosystems and landscapes, social inclusion, and viable economies.
This book explores the challenges posed by the new geographic information technologies in agroecology and organic farming. It discusses the differences among technology-laden conventional farming systems and the role of technologies in strengthening the potential of agroecology. The first part reviews the new tools offered by geographic information technologies to farmers and people. The second part provides case studies of most promising application of technologies in organic farming and agroecology: the diffusion of hyperspectral imagery, the role of positioning systems, the integration of drones with satellite imagery. The third part of the book, explores the role of agroecology using a multiscale approach from the farm to the landscape level. This section explores the potential of Geodesign in promoting alliances between farmers and people, and strengthening food networks, whether through proximity urban farming or asserting land rights in remote areas in the spirit of agroecological transition.
The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons 4.0 license.

Massimo De Marchi has a PhD in Geography. He is an Associate Professor at Department of Civil and Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Padova. His other roles include being an Academic coordinator of Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Climate Justice; Director of Second Level professional Master program in "GIScience and Unmanned System for the integrated management of the territory and the natural resources - with majors" (EQF8); Coordinator of the International Joint Master Degree on Sustainable Territorial Development - Climate Change Diversity Cooperation (STeDe - CCD) (EQF7); Co-Director of Joint program on "Climate Change Policies, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services", University of Padova, Andean University Simón Bolívar, Quito, Ecuador (EQF 7). Massimo teaches Environmental Impact Assessment (Master in Natural Sciences), Agroecology and Ecosystem Services (Master in Natural Sciences), Participatory GIS and Drones for Good (Master GIScience). His research focuses on adopting a qualitative GIScience approach, deal with participatory processes and environmental conflict management in complex territories with high biological and cultural diversity, land and environmental policies, sustainable local development, tourism and regional sustainability.
Alberto Diantini has a PhD in Geographical Studies. He is a postdoc researcher at the Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World, University of Padova. He teaches courses in Environmental Conflicts, Climate Justice and Social Impact Assessment for the STeDe International Master Programme at the University of Padova, and Mixed Methods and Scientific Communication in Socio-environmental Sciences at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar in Quito. His main research concerns agroecology as an alternative to the extractivist economic approach, and socio-environmental conflicts and social licence to operate in the oil contexts of the Ecuadorian Amazon and Italy.
Salvatore Eugenio Pappalardo has a PhD in Human and Physical Geography and PhD in Crop Science (University of Padua). He is a researcher in Environmental Geography, and is responsible for the GIScience and Drones for Good Laboratory (Department of Civil and Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Padova); Vice-Director of Second Level professional Master program in "GIScience and Unmanned System for the integrated management of the territory and the natural resources - with majors". He teaches Drones for Good: UAV and Digital Earth (Bachelor in Technologies for building and territory management), Geovisualization of territorial change: Digital Earth and Participatory GIS (STeDe International Master Programme at the University of Padova), Climate change: adaption on ecosystems and societies (Bachelor in Enginereeing), UAV for integrated management of natural resources (Second Level professional Master in GIScience). He is a visiting professor at the Andean University Simón Bolívar of Quito, (Ecuador). By adopting a GIScience approach he is working on impacts of anthropic activities on ecosystems and biodiversity, with a focus on oil production in Amazon rainforest, and on urban and rural sustainability in Italy.