Satellites map where soybeans can strengthen Africa's food supply Launch of the ResilientSoy project

ResilientSoy is a new international research project funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) under the Long-term Europe-Africa Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus Multilateral Research Programme. Working in equal partnership, the consortium develops practical approaches to strengthen climate resilience across the interconnected water, energy and food systems of Africa.

With a total budget of €650,000, the collaborative initiative spans South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana and the Netherlands. ResilientSoy combines Earth observation, artificial intelligence, field measurement of plant and soil parameters, and stakeholder co-creation.

Soybeans as a multi-faceted solution

Africa faces rapid population growth, climate extremes and declining agricultural productivity, and these challenges are interconnected. The consortium identified soybean as an ideal crop to bridge the gaps between water, energy and food. It was chosen for two reasons. First, its biological nitrogen fixation offers a nature-based alternative to synthetic fertilisers, while also providing high-quality protein and natural drought tolerance. Second, soybean cultivation aligns with the priorities of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and is a national priority for modernising agriculture and boosting rural livelihoods in South Africa, Ethiopia and Ghana.

Linking agricultural practice and Earth observation

Researchers will measure the water, energy and nitrogen requirements of the plants in the field, along with their physiological properties. They will combine these measurements with hyperspectral, thermal, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and multispectral data, artificial intelligence and spatial modelling. This integrated approach allows the consortium to monitor plant health and agricultural conditions across larger areas, and to identify where particular practices could deliver the greatest environmental and economic benefits. The resulting geospatial information supports more efficient use of land, water and energy, and strengthens regional planning and decision-making.

From farm to fork

The project is built on a logically constructed impact pathway that positions farmers as the primary target group. This gives it strong potential for societal impact, particularly for small-scale producers. ResilientSoy examines the social and economic factors that influence the adoption of new practices, including profitability, labour requirements, market access, and the barriers experienced by women and young people.

Collaborating with stakeholders across the entire value chain, the consortium co-creates best management practices, decision-support tools, and community-validated approaches to processing and nutrition. These outputs help connect agricultural production directly with local markets, food use and value-chain development, so that the nutritional benefits reach the community.

An equal partnership

Rooted in equal partnership, the project strengthens current transnational relationships while actively training the next generation of scientific leaders in Africa. The consortium includes the University of Limpopo (South Africa), Wollo University (Ethiopia), the University of Twente (the Netherlands), Hanze University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), Nigat Integrated Development Organization (Ethiopia), Pawe Agricultural Research Center (Ethiopia), Pan African Consulting Consortium Institute (Ghana), the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (the Netherlands) —bringing together a powerful mix of universities, research institutes, public organizations, and development partners.

University of Twente’s role

The University of Twente (UT), through the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), leads the project's work on monitoring and spatial modelling with Earth observation. ITC researchers integrate Earth observation data from new hyperspectral missions, including PRISMA, EnMAP and the upcoming CHIME, with thermal data from sensors such as Sentinel-3 SLSTR and SAR. They combine this with geospatial analysis, modelling and in situ measurements to establish early-warning indicators and comparative crop benchmarks for crop productivity and resource use. This work translates field observations into actionable, regional-scale information that can support planning and policy.

UT also co-leads the co-creation of farm-to-fork best practices. Here, ITC researchers are joined by colleagues from the Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences (BMS). Together they work with farmers, public organisations, processors and other actors in the value chain to turn findings from Earth observation and field research into practical, locally relevant approaches.

For further information, you may reach out to the project team members: Yue Dou (ITC), Roshanak Darvishzadeh (ITC) or Anne Dijkstra (BMS).