AIR Scientist Wins FAO Achievement Honorary Award

On October 28, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a summary meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to review the progress of the Red Palm Weevil Eradication Program in the Near East and North Africa region.  During the event, Prof. Huang Wenjiang from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was awarded the FAO Achievement Honorary Award. This recognition was for his pioneering contributions to early remote sensing monitoring and loss assessment of the red palm weevil, an invasive pest that poses a significant global threat to palm trees.

Prof. Huang Wenjiang leads a specialized team at AIR that focuses on remote sensing of vegetation diseases and pests. His team collaborates with international organizations, including the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI). Leveraging the extensive resources and global network of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), his team has developed a comprehensive technological chain for the global monitoring and forecasting of vegetation diseases and pests. This approach integrates multi-source data and establishes new methodologies for early spectral detection, identifying sensitive wavelengths for effective pest monitoring.

Their innovations have resulted in the development of specialized pest and disease products that cover 38 major crop-producing countries. These products provide essential support to government agencies, international organizations, agricultural extension services, and aerial pest control operations in the UAE, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and beyond.

Prof. Huang's team has developed an early detection method for the red palm weevil that combines spectral and thermal sensing, providing precise insights for early-stage monitoring. This approach has facilitated timely and scientifically informed control measures, minimizing pesticide use and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in vulnerable regions across the Near East and North Africa.

Prof. HUANG Wenjiang (in the middle) receives the FAO Achievement Honorary Award. (Image by AIR)