I seek to improve our understanding of crop carbon and water exchange from field to global scales. I answer my research questions with models that capture the spatio-temporal dynamics of agricultural production (area × yield) and evapotranspiration. The models are: (i) implemented in a Geographic Information System; (ii) based on principles of light-use efficiency and machine-learning; and (iii) driven by Earth observation, climate reanalysis, and other geospatial information. The work flow reduces uncertainties in crop models and improves agricultural monitoring systems, as well as motivates my teaching and training activities. Ultimately, my work increases agricultural production, enhances resilience of crops to drought and other climate shocks, and reduces CO2 emissions caused by agricultural expansion into natural ecosystems. Such outcomes help achieve Sustainable Development Goal SDG-2 (“Zero Hunger”), SDG-6 (“Clean Water and Sanitation”), SDG-13 (“Climate Action”), and SDG-15 (“Life on Land”).
Editor of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
Expertise
Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Model
- Cartography
- Investigation
- Farmland
- Vegetation Index
- Evapotranspiration
- Remote Sensing
- Datum
Organisations
Associate Professor in Crop Resilience and Sustainable Land Use
Research and Innovation Priorities
- Better data: Enhance field measurement networks to calibrate and validate AI-driven satellite Earth Observation methods for crop productivity, water use, and carbon fluxes.
- Better models: Develop knowledge-based AI model hybrids that integrate multi-scale satellite Earth Observation data to reduce uncertainty in crop yield, evapotranspiration, and carbon cycle predictions.
- Better insights: Design AI-powered decision-support systems that translate satellite Earth Observation data on crop productivity, water use, and carbon dynamics into actionable strategies for sustainable agriculture and land management.
Publications
2025
2024
2023
Research profiles
I grew up in the Mojave Desert where a few spectacular weeks a year a wanderer’s senses are stimulated by the unique smells of thirst-quenched soil and sudden wildflower blooms. These early experiences and my exposure to amazing educators influenced me profoundly. Consequently, I am driven to understand how we impact our environment and to help students discover their own passion in this regard.
Past Webinar
Monitoring Rangeland Carrying Capacity with EO
Noy-Meir Carrying Capacity Calculation
Supplementary Reading
Courses academic year 2024/2025
Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.
Courses academic year 2023/2024
CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service - Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA)
- Adoption and Diffusion of CGIAR-Related Innovations in Ethiopia Proposal for a follow-up study, Co-I
European Space Agency
- Continental Demonstrator LUISA: Land Use Intensity's Potential, Vulnerability and Resilience for Sustainable Agriculture in Africa, PI
- Agriculture Science Precursors Theme 1 - “Hidden Hunger”, Co-PI
- Enhancing ECOSTRESS drought monitoring with hyperspectral narrowbands, PI
- Sensing “Hidden Hunger” with Sentinel-2 and hyperspectral (PRISMA), Co-PI
- African Framework for Research Innovation, Communities and Applications in Earth Observation (EO-Africa)
Research and Development Facility
Nuffic
- Tailor-Made Training Plus (TMT+) for Bangladesh
- Ethiopian Education Network to Support Agricultural Transformation
Address
University of Twente
Langezijds (building no. 19), room 1127
Hallenweg 8
7522 NH Enschede
Netherlands
University of Twente
Langezijds 1127
P.O. Box 217
7500 AE Enschede
Netherlands
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