NASA Acres FIAT Showcases NASA Earth Science on Capitol Hill

Aug 6

Hosted by Senator Jerry Moran (KS), the NASA Acres Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT) Capitol Hill Reception recently brought together more than 250 participants from across the country to demonstrate how NASA Earth observation science is helping improve the productivity, resilience, and competitiveness of American agriculture.

Overlooking the Capitol from the top floor of the Hart Senate Office Building, the reception provided congressional staff with a unique opportunity to engage directly with the farmers and scientists who are working together to bring NASA innovations to the field. Congressional staff representing dozens of Senate offices and numerous House of Representatives offices joined producers, NASA Acres and NASA Earth Science leadership, researchers, agricultural organizations including National Sorghum Producers and USA Rice Federation, and industry partners to explore how NASA continues to build on its decades-long commitment to American agriculture through Earth observation science and satellite data.

Opening the evening, Senator Moran emphasized the importance of NASA's support for American agriculture and the role that Earth observation science plays in helping producers in Kansas and across the country. He highlighted his commitment to strengthening collaboration between NASA and agriculture to build on NASA Acres' success and help equip the next generation of U.S. producers. Senator Moran also thanked NASA Acres FIAT Steering Committee members and Kansas farmers Ray Flickner and Dwane Roth for their leadership and contributions to NASA Acres. NASA Earth Science Division Director Dr. Karen St. Germain and NASA Acres Executive Director Dr. Alyssa Whitcraft highlighted how NASA Earth Science and NASA Acres are building on NASA’s legacy by working closely with producers to ensure research addresses real agricultural challenges and delivers practical value across the agricultural sector.

A central focus of the reception was the Farm Innovation Ambassador Team (FIAT), NASA Acres' nationwide network of farmers, ranchers, crop consultants, extension professionals, researchers, and agricultural organizations. FIAT serves as the bridge between scientists and the agricultural community, ensuring that producers help identify priority challenges, evaluate emerging technologies under real-world conditions, and guide the development of tools that meet the needs of American agriculture.

Throughout the evening, attendees explored how NASA Earth observation science and research are improving irrigation and water management, crop monitoring and forecasting, conservation, weather resilience, precision agriculture, and more. The event also highlighted the broad coalition advancing NASA Acres' mission. Commodity organizations, industry partners, researchers, and producers demonstrated how NASA's openly available Earth observation data is driving innovation across the agricultural sector and creating new opportunities for public-private collaboration. The success of the evening was made possible through the generous sponsorship of John Deere, with additional support and in-kind contributions of American-grown products from Dassai Blue, GALLO, Anthony Road Wine Company, and Cob Foods/National Sorghum Producers.

By bringing together policymakers with the agricultural community and the scientists developing the next generation of Earth observation technologies, the NASA Acres FIAT Capitol Hill Reception demonstrated how NASA Acres is translating NASA capabilities into tools and resources that American agriculture depends on every day. The event underscored the importance of keeping producers at the center of innovation to ensure NASA Earth science continues to strengthen the productivity, resilience, and competitiveness of U.S. agriculture.