Common agricultural policy CAP: measures to be undertaken making use of the remote-sensing applications, 2008-2013

PURPOSE: the continued application of measures that make use of remote-sensing techniques to monitor agricultural markets.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation

BACKGROUND: the EU’s agricultural policy takes account of the social structure of agricultural and the natural disparities between the various agricultural regions of the EU. Hence there is a need for information on land condition and crop use. Remote sensing applications help provide some of this information. Between 2003 and 2007 a pilot project on remote-sensing techniques, under the auspices of Council Decision No 2066/2003/EC, was initiated. This project has enabled the agro-meteorological system for forecasting yields and monitoring land and crop conditions to achieve an advanced  stage. Remote sensing provides a tailored response to the management needs of the common agricultural policy – needs that can not be met by traditional agricultural statistics and forecasting systems alone. It has also enhanced the accuracy, objectivity, speed and frequency with which observations are made and helped perfect agricultural statistics and forecasting models. The system has also enabled savings to be made in terms of monitoring agricultural expenditures.

CONTENT: the purpose of this proposal, therefore, is to continue making use of remote-sensing techniques in order to monitor agricultural markets. The project will apply from 1 January 2008 for a six-year period. The remote-sensing application will be a tool for the Commission to: manage agricultural markets; allow for agro-economic monitoring such as crop condition in order to estimate yields; promote information access; and ensure technological follow-up of the agro-meteorological system.

The system will also collect, or purchase, data needed to implement and monitor the CAP (in particular satellite data and meteorological data); create a spatial data infrastructure and website; carry out specific studies on climatic conditions; and update agro-meteorological and econometric models.

All information will be made available to the Member States electronically and the Commission is expected to work closely with national bodies and laboratories.