Stakeholders of current agricultural systems require accurate and up to date information for decision-making at all levels. On the one hand, up-to-date information on the growth and development of crops is crucial for managing practical aspects of farming and agricultural value chains such as local farm and crop management, storage and logistics, and trading and contract management. On the other hand, policymakers require insight into the short- and long-term impact of their policies on production, socio-economic conditions, food security and the availability of land, water and energy resources. The latter is becoming increasingly important in particular due to the impact of climate change on agriculture.