The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) congratulates Professor Moses Cho on being recognised as part of the team awarded the prestigious NASA Group Achievement Award for Excellence in Biodiversity Science.
Prof. Cho led one of the 20 thematic research streams under the BioSCape initiative, titled: Hyperspectral Signal Processing for Terrestrial, Aquatic and Atmospheric Applications in South Africa. This project delivered a groundbreaking synthetic spectral database, positioning South Africa to fully leverage future imaging spectroscopy missions led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
“This award reflects the strength of collaboration and the collective expertise brought together through the BioSCape initiative. It is particularly meaningful to contribute to work that enhances our ability to understand and monitor biodiversity in a changing climate,” says Prof. Cho.
The achievement represents a significant collaboration between leading research institutions, including the CSIR, University of Pretoria, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of the Western Cape and the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Together, these partners have built a scientific foundation that strengthens biodiversity monitoring and environmental intelligence across diverse ecosystems.
“With the development of a synthetic spectral database, South Africa is better positioned to utilise future imaging spectroscopy missions for environmental management and agricultural innovation. This marks an important step towards strengthening national capabilities in Earth observation,” Prof. Cho adds.
At the CSIR, Prof. Cho leads research in precision agriculture and remote sensing, driving innovations that support data-driven decision-making in agriculture and environmental management. Widely regarded as a leader in hyperspectral remote sensing science, he brings more than 22 years of experience in the field. He holds a PhD in hyperspectral remote sensing and also serves as an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Pretoria.
His work continues to advance the digitalisation of agriculture, enabling precision crop management, sustainable land-use planning and improved biodiversity assessment at local and regional scales. Through the application of Earth observation technologies, his research is shaping how natural resources are monitored and managed in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.
More information visit https://www.csir.co.za/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food/precision-agriculture
Published 29 May 2026