Early Warning System for Food Security
Satellite data archived at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) center serves a critical role in the assessment of food security for FEWS NET – the Famine Early Warning System Network.
FEWS NET was created in 1985 by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after devastating famines in East and West Africa. It provides objective, evidence-based analysis to help government decision-makers and relief agencies plan for and respond to humanitarian crises.
As of July 1, 2025, FEWS NET activities transitioned to the U.S. Department of State.
USGS EROS works with the State Department, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Chemonics International to provide the data, information, and analyses needed for FEWS NET. EROS also collaborates with several universities, most notably the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).
UCSB’s Climate Hazards Center produces the Climate Hazards Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) data set, the standard precipitation data set used by FEWS NET. NASA collects and processes satellite data that are used by EROS to generate vegetation monitoring products such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI and CHIRPS data are two of the tools FEWS NET uses to monitor agricultural conditions across its regions of operations.
In addition, EROS provides technical support to FEWS NET in the use of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technologies. Leveraging its technical resources, EROS also develops specialized processing and analyses, creates custom software for field staff, and maintains long-term data archiving and distribution services.
Through these collaborations, FEWS NET continues to deliver trusted information on food security. The USGS FEWS NET Data Portal provides access to geospatial data, satellite image products, and derived data products that support drought monitoring efforts worldwide. Visit the FEWS NET data portal to learn more and access data.
Satellite data archived at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) center serves a critical role in the assessment of food security for FEWS NET – the Famine Early Warning System Network.
FEWS NET was created in 1985 by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after devastating famines in East and West Africa. It provides objective, evidence-based analysis to help government decision-makers and relief agencies plan for and respond to humanitarian crises.
As of July 1, 2025, FEWS NET activities transitioned to the U.S. Department of State.
USGS EROS works with the State Department, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Chemonics International to provide the data, information, and analyses needed for FEWS NET. EROS also collaborates with several universities, most notably the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).
UCSB’s Climate Hazards Center produces the Climate Hazards Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) data set, the standard precipitation data set used by FEWS NET. NASA collects and processes satellite data that are used by EROS to generate vegetation monitoring products such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI and CHIRPS data are two of the tools FEWS NET uses to monitor agricultural conditions across its regions of operations.
In addition, EROS provides technical support to FEWS NET in the use of remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) technologies. Leveraging its technical resources, EROS also develops specialized processing and analyses, creates custom software for field staff, and maintains long-term data archiving and distribution services.
Through these collaborations, FEWS NET continues to deliver trusted information on food security. The USGS FEWS NET Data Portal provides access to geospatial data, satellite image products, and derived data products that support drought monitoring efforts worldwide. Visit the FEWS NET data portal to learn more and access data.