Canada funds satellite data projects to protect biodiversity

The Canadian Space Agency announced a $5 million smartEarth investment to fund 20 Canadian companies to develop satellite-data projects addressing biodiversity challenges, announced on September 29, 2025 in Longueuil, Quebec at the 76th International Astronautical Congress.

• Main announcement/action: $5 million investment by the Canadian Space Agency under the smartEarth initiative to fund 20 Canadian companies (of which 8 collaborate with Indigenous organizations) to develop projects that address declining species populations, habitat degradation, deteriorating water quality, and forest disturbance; announced at the 76th International Astronautical Congress on September 29, 2025 (Longueuil, Quebec).

  • Event details:
    • Date: September 29, 2025
    • Location: Longueuil, Quebec
    • Subject: Announcement of smartEarth funding for satellite-data solutions to tackle biodiversity challenges

• Background and additional details: The projects will apply artificial intelligence to satellite data for uses including detecting invasive plants, assessing forest and agricultural landscapes, and monitoring migratory birds; 35% of project leads are new recipients. Since smartEarth launch, the Canadian Space Agency has awarded over $35 million to more than 105 R&D projects, involving over 650 highly qualified personnel from nearly 130 organizations.