Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to prevent potential annual losses of US$4 billion in agricultural exports under the EU’s new deforestation-free regulation.

The partnership will establish a national agricultural traceability and monitoring system using satellite technology, geospatial mapping, and real-time data to ensure crops are legally produced and deforestation-free.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture warns that fragmented state-level systems will not meet EU standards, potentially costing Nigeria US$1 billion in direct exports and up to US$3 billion in total economic value annually. NASRDA will provide satellite-enabled monitoring to support sustainable farming, precision agriculture, and nationwide farmland mapping.

Officials described the initiative as a “new era where data, science, and trust will shape the competitiveness of agricultural economies,” safeguarding market access and supporting smallholder farmers. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.