Evaluating the Impact of Various Agronomic Management Practices on Food Loss at the Primary Production Stage Using Proximal and Remote Sensing

Reducing food loss is critical for enhancing food security and sustainability. Food loss at the primary production stage is caused by crop abiotic and biotic stresses (e.g., water, irradiation, temperature, nutrients, and pest, disease, weeds, respectively). Our research in the context of the European project FOLOU aims to evaluate the impact of both stresses on yield of maj or crops. Three distinct management strategies were identified and implemented to achieve this objective: Business as Usual (BAU), Enhanced Conventional (ECV), and Zero Stress (ZST). These strategies were designed and applied to assess their impact on crop yield and health, utilizing multiple data sources such as remote sensing data and crop phenological and physiological surveys. The merging of these different types of data allows for the monitoring and analysis of crop health, growth stages, and yield outcomes. This study aims to quantify the impact of stress factors on yield, and consequently on food production loss, by comparing the effects of BAU, ECV, and ZST on wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.), In this paper the preliminary results on wheat yield gap and remotely sensed data are presented. The results provide valuable insights for farmers and policymakers aiming to implement sustainable intensification of farming practices, to minimize the gap between potential and actual yields and reduce food loss at the primary production stage.