NOAA Contracts for Precision Weather Data Could Strengthen Food Security

NOAA awarded contracts to Spire Global and PlanetiQ for radio-occultation weather data services, aiming to improve forecasting accuracy for crop resilience and disaster response.

NOAA awarded Spire Global $3.7 million and PlanetiQ $2.7 million for radio-occultation data services under its indefinite delivery program. The contracts, effective September 18 to December 1, 2026, will deliver 4,600 daily global navigation satellite system profiles for Spire and 4,200 for PlanetiQ—along with enhanced temporal resolution and electron content tracking. These services feed into NOAA’s $2.35 billion 10-year program, which already shares data with NASA and military agencies. PlanetiQ completed testing of next-generation GNOMES satellites in August 2026, though launch remains pending.

Radio-occultation data measures how radio signals bend through Earth’s atmosphere, creating high-resolution weather models. For food security, this precision reduces crop losses from extreme weather and improves disaster preparedness—critical for regions vulnerable to droughts or floods. The contracts directly support Sustenance by enhancing the accuracy of seasonal forecasts that farmers rely on.

This progress moves food security by lowering the cost and risk of weather-related crop damage. Better forecasts mean fewer food shortages during storms or droughts, freeing up resources for other needs. However, the contracts’ delivery period ends in December 2026, and PlanetiQ’s satellite launch timeline remains uncertain. Subsequent program expansion depends on NOAA’s IDIQ terms, which could delay broader impact. The initial contract values represent a fraction of the $2.35 billion ceiling, so scaling this technology requires further investment.

Source: SpaceNews