Global Food Security Support Analysis Data (GFSAD) using remote sensing in support of food and water security in the 21st century

The overarching goal of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-art of global cropland mapping procedures using remote sensing as characterized and envisioned by the “Global Food Security Support Analysis Data @ 30 m (GFSAD30)” project working group team. First, the chapter will provide an overview of existing cropland maps and their characteristics along with establishing the gaps in knowledge related to global cropland mapping. Second, definitions of cropland mapping along with key parameters involved in cropland mapping based on their importance in food security analysis, and cropland naming conventions for standardized cropland mapping using remote sensing will be presented. Third, existing methods and approaches for cropland mapping will be discussed. This will include the type of remote sensing data used in cropland mapping and their characteristics along with discussions on the secondary data, field-plot data, and cropland mapping algorithms. Fourth, currently existing global cropland products derived using remote sensing will be presented and discussed. Fifth, a synthesis of all existing products leading to a composite global cropland extent version 1.0 (GCE V1.0) is presented and discussed. Sixth, a way forward for advanced global cropland mapping is visualized.