Burning leftover crop materials after harvest is a common practice in many parts of the world. While it can help farmers clear fields quickly, it also releases harmful gases and particles into the air, contributing to poor air quality. It can also affect soil health and future crop growth. Although crop burning accounts for approximately 10% of all land burned by fires each year, it is often overlooked or underestimated. This is partly because satellite data are usually not detailed enough to detect small agricultural fires, and partly because there is limited reporting from the ground.

To help fill this gap, we created GloCAB, a global dataset that uses satellite images to map burned crop residue. Our results show that much more land is burned each year than most commonly used datasets suggest. This improved data can help make emissions estimates more accurate and support better air quality planning.

We’re also working with agencies like the U.S. EPA to use this information in their models. At the same time, we’re studying other farm practices, such as tilling after burning or green harvest methods, to better understand how they affect emissions and the environment over time.