Forming scientific-methodical principles of satellite agroecological monitoring in Ukraine

The article presents the historical aspects of developing remote agroecological monitoring. It is shown that in the process of improving satellite sensors, opening access to foreign satellite data, the possibilities and effectiveness of using the results of remote sensing in scientific and environmental protection activities, in the production of safe agricultural products have expanded. The stages of forming scientific and technical program of satellite agro-ecological monitoring «Agrokosmos», the main fundamentals, tasks and results of this research direction are analyzed. The effectiveness of satellite information for determining the structure of agrolandscapes and land use systems, climate change, its impact on the condition of crops and their moisture supply, productivity of grain crops is shown. Methodical approaches to identifying and mapping manifestations of desertification processes, erosive degradation of agricultural land and associated negative trends are considered. It is noted that modern satellite information is an important tool not only for improving the agroecological monitoring system, but also for developing and implementing measures to achieve a neutral level of soil degradation, prevent the development of desertification processes, and adapt to climate change. It has been proven that the satellite agroecological monitoring system needs improvement in terms of more detailed classification of individual elements of agrolandscapes, as well as improvement of algorithms and image processing methods to expand the possibilities of timely using these data to provide management recommendations and prompt adjustment of agricultural technologies. The main directions of further development of the «Agrokosmos» program are presented. An important issue remains the strengthening of the coordination of research works with the scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences, the State Space Agency, the development of cooperation with foreign partners within the framework of international projects. The urgent task of improving the information potential of the use of Earth remote sensing data is the creation of a national network of sub-satellite terrestrial agricultural test sites. The effective use of satellite data in management, production and scientific activities in agriculture requires creating an interdepartmental informative and analytical center «Agrokosmos» within the framework of the National Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and Food.