Mapping cropland abandonment across the conflict-affected Sahel
The third ESA Φ-lab Grand Marathon challenges innovators to use satellite imagery and AI to map abandoned farmland in the Sahel, to improve food security and support humanitarian action.
- Sector
- Earth observation & food security
- TRL
- Any stage, from research to market
- Deadline
- 15 January 2027
General context
Conflict and insecurity are reshaping agricultural landscapes across the Sahel, forcing farmers to abandon fields and disrupting rainfed food production. From Mali to Sudan, areas that once supported seasonal crops can become inaccessible or remain uncultivated as violence, displacement and insecurity intensify. Yet these changes are often difficult to detect and understand at scale: cropland abandonment can be gradual, spatially fragmented and closely intertwined with seasonal rainfall variability, making it challenging to distinguish the effects of conflict from those of climate and other environmental drivers.
Earth Observation (EO) offers a unique opportunity to monitor these dynamics across vast and difficult-to-access areas, combining satellite imagery, environmental data and information on conflict and human mobility. This challenge invites innovators to develop next-generation EO approaches to detect, map and understand rainfed cropland abandonment in conflict-affected regions, with a particular focus on the Sahelian belt from Mali towards Sudan. The aim is to turn satellite observations into actionable insights that support food-security monitoring, humanitarian response, and the resilience and recovery of vulnerable agricultural communities.
Who is the Grand Marathon for?
Any startup, company, agency or NGO developing Earth Observation solutions to detect, map and understand the abandonment of rainfed croplands in conflict-affected regions, from Mali to Sudan.
Rainfed fields
Technologies finding rainfed fields and tracking whether they are sown, season after season.
Climate-driven abandonment
Solutions predicting what a season should look like for each rainfed field, spotting dry-spell stress or flood damage.
Conflict-driven abandonment
Solutions flagging rainfed fields left empty, evidencing insecurity or displacement signals (burned fields, emptied villages, cut-off roads…) or attributing change to its most likely cause.
Decision support
Technologies turning attribution into trusted, seasonal information for food-security, humanitarian and recovery decisions.
Am I eligible?
Any stage of product development, from research to commercialisation, is eligible for the Marathon. Projects supporting food security and the recovery of vulnerable agricultural communities are particularly welcome.
Based in an ESA member state
Applicants must be from an ESA member state, including Associate and Cooperating Members under current ESA rules.
Open to all types of organisations
Research projects, companies of all types (from early-stage startups to established companies), agencies, NGOs and other institutions.
Focused on rainfed croplands
Able to detect and characterise gradual, fragmented abandonment, and to tell conflict-driven abandonment apart from changes driven by rainfall variability, drought, floods and other climate factors.
Built on novel EO and AI approaches
New sensors, data sources or methods combining satellite observations with environmental, conflict and human mobility data, to deliver trusted, season-by-season insights for food-security programmes, humanitarian agencies and NGOs.
Business and real-life potential
Showing a clear potential for business and real-life applications.
What will you benefit from?
Prizes are cumulative and awarded as runners complete each deliverable of the Marathon.
Substantial prize pool
Up to €120K for the 1st runner, up to €45K for the 2nd and up to €15K for the 3rd.
Global exposure
Pitch your solution to an international audience on stage at the Hello Tomorrow Summit in Amsterdam (2–3 June 2027).
International presence
Gain prestige and recognition by presenting at two upcoming official ESA events.
Expert coaching
Receive exclusive coaching from Hello Tomorrow’s experts and refine your pitch.
Unparalleled networking
Engage directly with ESA Φ-lab’s leading network of Earth Observation experts.
A marathon in 42 km
The Grand Marathon is a progressive competition with cumulative prizes. Each milestone marks a new stage of the challenge, just like checkpoints in a marathon.
Applications open
Ask Me Anything webinars on 25 November and 17 December. Applicants submit a 5-page idea proposal including a Lean Business Plan.
Applications close
Last day to submit your idea proposal.
3 runners selected
The 3 runners write a detailed 25-page proposal with a full business plan. Up to €15K for each team on completion.
Pitch at an official ESA event
Runners present their concepts at an official ESA event.
Finals at the Hello Tomorrow Summit
Runners build a first MVP using Earth Observation test data. 2 runners continue the Marathon, with up to €45K for each team.
Grand Winner showcase
The Grand Winner delivers a high-fidelity version of the full solution with real-case scenarios and presents it at an official ESA event. Up to €120K.
In collaboration with
ESA Φ-lab
ESA Φ-lab accelerates the future of Earth Observation through disruptive innovation and commercialisation, managing the full innovation cycle from blue-sky concepts to tangible impact. With financial, technical and business support, it helps bridge the gap between innovative ideas and the market.
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme works to combat hunger and improve food security for communities around the world. The winning solutions will work with ESA Φ-lab, the World Food Programme and Save the Children to explore how to implement them in future initiatives.
Save the Children
Save the Children is dedicated to improving children’s lives and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive. The winning solutions will work with ESA Φ-lab, the World Food Programme and Save the Children to explore how to implement them in future initiatives.
Your questions about the Grand Marathon
Can’t find your answer? Contact our Project Coordinator, Federico Mentoni (federico.mentoni@hello-tomorrow.org).
Who can apply?
Any startup, company, agency or NGO from an ESA member state (including Associate and Cooperating Members) developing Earth Observation solutions for this challenge. Research projects are welcome, and any stage of product development is eligible.
What do I need to submit to apply?
A concise, 5-page idea proposal including a Lean Business Plan, before 15 January 2027.
How are the prizes awarded?
Prizes are cumulative and awarded at each deliverable: up to €15K for each of the 3 runners after the first deliverable, up to €45K for each of the 2 runners who continue, and up to €120K for the Grand Winner.
Is there a session to ask my questions?
Yes. Join our Ask Me Anything webinars on 25 November at 16:00 CET and on 17 December.
Who can I contact for more information?
Our Project Coordinator, Federico Mentoni (federico.mentoni@hello-tomorrow.org).
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Join the Grand Marathon
Help map cropland abandonment across the conflict-affected Sahel. Applications close on 15 January 2027.