Journal of Agricultural Big Data ›› 2020, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (4): 5-13.doi: 10.19788/j.issn.2096-6369.200401

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Experiences and Enlightenment into Development of an International Agricultural Scientific Observation Network

Shuai Yang1(), Guomin Zhou1,2,3, Yan Zhuang1()   

  1. 1.Department of Science and Technology Management, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
    2.National Agriculture Science Data Center, Beijing 100081, China
    3.Key Laboratory of Big Agri-Data, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, China
  • Received:2020-11-20 Online:2020-12-26 Published:2021-03-11
  • Contact: Yan Zhuang E-mail:yangshuai@caas.cn;zhuangyan@caas.cn

Abstract:

With the rapid proliferation of big data in the context of the fourth paradigm of science, the roles of agricultural observation networks have become increasingly prominent, especially in the discovery and application of scientific knowledge for regional or even global agriculture systems. A multitude of agricultural observation networks have been established or upgraded by developed countries in Europe and the USA or by international organizations. Multi-scale, multi-site, and interdisciplinary integrated agricultural observation networks at national or international scales have established an institutional system of ‘decision-making, consultation, and execution’. The networks have provided a large amount of agricultural observation data and outputs, strongly supported the implementation of diverse research programs, and thus aided decision-making for agricultural management and promoted realization of sustainable development goals. This paper outlines the development process for an agricultural observation network, analyzes three representative modes of international agricultural observation network, and summarizes their prominent features, trends in network development, and provides insight into the development of an agricultural system observation network in China. The 180 years of development of agricultural observation networks indicate that, in the face of agricultural system transformation driven by complex factors, agricultural observation research must strengthen the top-level design, standard specification, and open data portals to enable adaptation to the overall trends for integrated cooperation, coupling of research fields, scale expansion, and development of new technologies. Agricultural observation research also must develop a research platform that is multidisciplinary and internationally collaborative, to accelerate the development of China's agricultural scientific observation network, to expand research cooperation both at home and abroad, and to support the technological requirements of national- and global-scale observation research.

Key words: agricultural observation network, network development, institutional innovation, scientific observation, scientific data

CLC Number: 

  • S126