Description
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) enables agriculture community to annually measure adoption of soil health practices in a standardized, systematic, and cost-efficient way across large-scale geographies. OpTIS is an automated system to map tillage, residue cover, winter cover, and soil health practices using remote sensing data. OpTIS enables tracking progress against sustainability goals, allowing for the identification of field-level trends. This information serves to optimize farm management decisions, ensuring a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to agriculture.
Technology
The system uses remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. OpTIS produces spatially comprehensive maps using information integrated from multiple earth-observing satellites. The gathered data undergoes analysis through proprietary software, including the DeNitrification DeComposition Soil Carbon Model (DNDC model). The software aids in pinpointing areas and methods for implementing impactful changes. The reports are accessible through a desktop/mobile online platform. OpTIS-based data are currently available for the years 2015 through 2021. The new dataset released in September 2023 uses updated algorithms for croplands in all lower 48 states (CONUS). The data are presented in the context of a two-year crop rotation with options to review by the previous and following cash crop for both tillage and cover crops. As with previous releases, all data are undergoing various forms of peer review and may be updated in the future. While OpTIS calculations are performed at the farm-field scale using publicly available data, the privacy of individual producers is fully protected by reporting only spatially-aggregated results at regional and watershed scales.
Target
OpTIS primarily caters to large farms that are committed to diminishing the environmental impact of their operations by embracing a regenerative agriculture approach. As of December 2023, monitoring 1.2 billion acres and powering over 2 million acres of farmer-facing programs, the solution offered by Regrow enables farmers to financially benefit from practice change, and companies to invest and report with confidence. Farmers are not the only users of this technology. Conservation organisations, regional and national agricultural offices, academic researchers, stakeholders throughout the agri-food system supply chain; soil and water conservation districts; as well as environmental and agricultural governmental authorities can use the system too.
Business model
The OpTIS uses publicly available data from several earth-observing satellites. Users can access available OpTIS data and an interactive visualization tool at www.ctic.org/OpTIS at no cost. A link to DNDC data is available at www.ctic.org/DNDC.
Impact
Among the impacts reported by the Nature Conservancy, OpTIS can help manage soil and water conservation districts establish priorities and evaluate progress in achieving county or statewide goals. Furthermore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state governments used OpTIS to track progress towards and better focus efforts to meet the ambitious goals of the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force to reduce harmful nutrient (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus) loading in the Mississippi River basin. Stakeholders throughout the agri-food system supply chain can better understand market trends in the adoption of cover crops and specific tillage systems that impact environmental sustainability, such as greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration. Regional and national agricultural offices evaluate and compare the effectiveness of conservation programs across large regions. Overall, OpTIS can facilitate the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices, which are designed to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. By optimizing farming techniques based on data-driven insights, Regrow contributes to reducing the environmental footprint of agricultural activities. The platform's use of advanced models like the DNDC model allows farmers to assess and mitigate the impact of their activities on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly nitrogen compounds. This contributes to climate change mitigation efforts by promoting sustainable land management practices. Farms adopting OpTIS benefit from enhanced operational efficiency. The platform provides insights into field-level trends, enabling farmers to make informed decisions about crop management, tillage practices, and cover crop adoption. This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and reduced waste. By focusing on regenerative agriculture principles, Regrow supports practices that promote long-term soil health. This includes minimizing soil erosion, improving nutrient cycling, and fostering a healthier soil microbiome.
Partners
Climate Action Reserve, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, South Pole, John Deere, SustainCERT; Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research; U.S. Department of Agriculture and NASA; Bayer Crop Science; CF Industries, Corteva Agriscience; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation; John Deere; The Joyce Foundation; J.R. Simplot Company; The Mosaic Company; Syngenta; the Walmart Foundation; the Walton Family Foundation; TNC;
Four Betters
Better environment
