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The Strain is Beginning to Show
Although the Taliban took power four years ago, and poppy cultivation has remained at historically low levels since 2023, declining opium...
David Mansfield
5 days ago19 min read


2025 crop estimates for six provinces in Afghanistan
Winter crop estimates for six provinces in Afghanistan reveal two concerning results: A second year of reductions in the area of...
richardbrittan
Jul 13 min read


Opiate supplies continue despite the Taliban drugs ban
While many argue that a shift into synthetic opioids downstream in Europe is a function of a shortage of opium in Afghanistan caused by the Taliban drugs ban, opium prices in Afghanistan have been falling since their peak in December 2023: a function of substantial inventories in southwest Afghanistan, continued widespread cultivation in Badakhshan, improved processing techniques, and the dramatic rise in poppy cultivation in Pakistan and Iran in 2025.
David Mansfield
Jun 1713 min read


StoryMap Success
For the second year in a row we are a finalist in the Esri ArcGIS StoryMap Competition.
Bella Brittan
Feb 133 min read


Four Years of Being (Geo)Awesome
We’re proud to be selected as one of the 2025 top 100 geospatial companies in GeoAwesome’s list for the 4th year in a row.
Bella Brittan
Feb 33 min read


Celebrating the International Day of Education: Empowering Minds and Shaping Futures
Education is key to unlocking human potential and GIS is key to education.
Bella Brittan
Jan 244 min read


Championing Innovation: Our Win at the UN World Data Forum StoryMap Competition
Delighted our StoryMap won the "Building Trust, Protection, and Ethics in Data" category at the 2024 UNWDF.
Bella Brittan
Jan 102 min read


"Out with the Old, in with the New"
With the ephedra season over and poppy planting season in full swing, it is an ideal time to assess the impact of the Taliban drug ban.
David Mansfield
Dec 10, 202413 min read


“Between the Lion and the Man with the Stick”
As the next poppy season approaches, the Taliban possibly find themselves tackling both poppy farmers and drug traders at the same time.
David Mansfield
Oct 1, 202418 min read


Sowing the Seeds of Division in Badakhshan?
Sowing the Seeds of Division in Badakhshan? A second consecutive year of a poppy ban in Afghanistan, but at what price?
David Mansfield
Jul 25, 202419 min read


“Gold Never Gets Old”: Opium stores are critical to understanding the effects of the current Taliban drug ban (i)
It is misleading to compare the effects of the current drug ban in Afghanistan with the previous Taliban prohibition in 2001.
David Mansfield
Apr 18, 202417 min read


An Industry and a Population Under Stress: Methamphetamine Production Under Taliban Rule
An Industry and a Population Under Stress: Methamphetamine Production Under Taliban Rule
David Mansfield
Dec 11, 202318 min read


Uncharted Territory: Does the Taliban’s new edict signal a crackdown on the drugs trade is looming?
The 2023/24 poppy season is already upon us, and most indicators including market prices suggest that the Taliban regime is going to...
David Mansfield
Nov 2, 20238 min read


Whistling in the Wind: The Inevitable Return of Poppy Cultivation to Afghanistan
High-resolution satellite imagery analysis reveals that poppy cultivation in Afghanistan in 2023 is down 85% compared to 2022.
David Mansfield
Sep 29, 202324 min read


This is not the ephedra you are looking for
I’ve had a lot of emails following UNODC’s recent report on methamphetamine in Afghanistan. Most are sceptical of the findings...
David Mansfield
Sep 15, 20238 min read


The Policy Dilemma in Afghanistan: There are no good options in response to the Taliban’s Opium Ban
The Policy Dilemma in Afghanistan: There are no good options in response to the Taliban’s Opium Ban.
David Mansfield
Aug 8, 202310 min read


Truly Unprecedented: The Taliban Drugs Ban v2.0.
With the Taliban having exceeded expectations and reduced poppy cultivation to levels not seen since 2001, there is now a real need to...
David Mansfield
Jun 6, 202320 min read


Alcis recognised as a Global Top 100 Geospatial Company in 2023
For the second year in a row, we are delighted to be awarded a place on this prestigious list of companies - for our use of geospatial...
Alison Hall
Jan 30, 20232 min read


Will They, Won’t They?
Will They, Won’t They?
What do we actually know about the coming opium poppy season and what both farmers and the Taliban will do?
David Mansfield
Oct 31, 202217 min read


Using Earth Observation and Geospatial data to plan, monitor and measure water resources
Today around 4,500 children die from water related diseases every day and millions of people don't have access to clean water. Water is...
Alison Hall
Sep 27, 20221 min read
Managing Local Resources and conflct
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