Locust outbreak probability map

Happy Earth Day, 22 April 2026 – a global call to act and protect our planet. At the European Space Agency, that action begins in orbit, where satellites deliver a continuous, global view of Earth and track environmental change. Working with partners, ESA turns this stream of data into actionable information, helping governments and communities respond faster and more effectively to climate-driven risks.

For example, desert locusts pose a severe threat to food security across East Africa, with swarms capable of devastating crops within hours. Today, satellite-based Earth observation is changing that – enabling authorities to detect risk early, predict breeding conditions and act before swarms ever take flight.

The image shows an example of a locust outbreak probability map, which can be used to issue location-specific alerts every 10 days – helping authorities prioritise interventions and support farmers facing crop losses.

Read full story: Turning data from space into action for Earth