Australia’s LatConnect 60 and Phi Earth Technologies have announced a strategic partnership aimed at linking satellite-based Earth observation data with verified field information in nature, regenerative agriculture and biomass projects. The partnership seeks to address a practical gap between what satellites observe from orbit and what field teams record on the ground—a gap that limits the value of data for project developers, investors and carbon markets.
Under the collaboration, LatConnect 60 will combine its Earth observation capabilities with Phi Earth’s audit-ready digital platform, known as dMRV, meaning digital monitoring, reporting and verification. The companies say the integration will lay the groundwork for building an Earth-observation-supported digital twin that combines space-based data with field measurements whose accuracy is verified, creating a continuous feedback loop to improve operational decisions and environmental reporting.
What Changes in Practice?
The idea is not limited to measuring project outcomes after they occur; it aims to support the project cycle from initial planning through continuous monitoring. Repeated field observations are expected to help verify conclusions drawn from satellite imagery, while space-based data will provide a broader and more continuous view of what is happening at project sites. According to the companies, this could give project developers, landowners and ecosystem partners more useful operational information, along with a stronger basis for reporting environmental outcomes.
Stuart Gunnery, chief executive officer of Phi Earth Technologies, said that the value of data lies not only in collecting it, but also in helping people make better decisions. He added that combining what satellites observe with what teams measure on the ground could provide a clearer picture of nature-project performance and strengthen investors’ and stakeholders’ confidence in environmental outcomes.
Initial Application Scope
In its first phase, the partnership will support projects in Malaysia and Australia focused on biomass and regenerative agriculture. Early applications include napier grass, sweet sorghum and cactus, expanding the range of environments and crops in which LatConnect 60 is testing its Earth observation capabilities, while also providing Phi Earth with more diverse field data to improve its digital platform.
Venkat Pillay, chief executive officer and founder of LatConnect 60, said the collaboration would enable the company to test Earth observation capabilities in real projects and demonstrate how satellite data can support digital monitoring, reporting and verification platforms, biomass projects and nature-based applications.
The Importance of Space Infrastructure and Current Limitations
The partnership will rely on LatConnect 60’s high-resolution shortwave infrared constellation, known as SWIRSAT. The company says the constellation will produce data on biomass growth, biomass moisture and carbon sequestration. The roadmap includes launching two SWIRSAT satellites in the first quarter of 2027 and reaching a constellation of 18 satellites by 2029. SWIRSAT is supported by the Australian Space Agency and the Government of Western Australia.
certi.news reading: The technical value announced here lies in integrating two data sources within a single monitoring and verification workflow, not in launching a new space product in itself. However, the source does not mention operational results, accuracy indicators or a specific date for deploying the integrated platform, and part of the space capability depends on future launches. Therefore, the partnership’s practical value will remain tied to its ability to turn this integration into auditable measurements and field decisions, rather than simply increasing the volume of available data.