Agricultural production and land statistics are available at national scale from FAOSTAT database, but these statistical data cannot capture the spatial heterogeneity of agricultural production systems at fine resolutions within country boundaries. In this case a “downscaling” method is needed for plausible attribution of aggregate national production statistics to individual spatial units (grid cells) by applying formal methods that account for land characteristics, assess possible production options and can use available evidence from observed or inferred geo-spatial information, including remotely sensed land cover, soil, climate and vegetation distribution, population density and distribution, etc.

Theme 5 spatial layers include mapped distributions of harvested area, yield and production at 5 arc-minute resolution for 26 major crops/crop groups, separately in rain-fed and irrigated cropland. Country totals are based on FAO statistics for the years 2009-2011. Also included are estimates of the spatial distribution of total crop production value and the production values of major crop groups (cereals, root crops, oil crops), all valued at year 2000 international prices, separately for rain-fed and irrigated cropland.

This theme is organized into two main sub-themes: (1) Area, Yield and Production, and (2) Aggregate Crop Production Value.

GAEZ methodology development, data base compilation, production of results and establishing the Data Portal were accomplished in close technical collaboration and with inputs of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.