The United Nations created World Food Day to mark the establishment of their Food and Agriculture Organization and highlight the importance of agriculture worldwide. This year it falls on Friday, Oct. 16.

NASA satellites provide Earth observation data in support of improved agricultural monitoring. NASA's Food Security and Agriculture Program, known as NASA Harvest, is managed by the NASA Earth Science Division's Applied Sciences Program.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network, known as FEWSNET, yield estimates in the United States Midwest "corn belt," and monitoring crop conditions in Mali in partnership with the Lutheran World Relief program are just a few of the portfolio of scientific projects supported by NASA Harvest. It works collaboratively with partners across the globe to increase the adoption of satellite Earth observation data to better inform agricultural policies, farming practices, and humanitarian efforts worldwide. NASA Harvest is managed by the University of Maryland in a consortium of leading scientists and stakeholders.