CAP Area Monitoring Services
GIS-enabled services supporting the area-based monitoring of CAP interventions
Description
The “CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Area Monitoring Services” platform offers customized Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem services, supporting the area monitoring system of the Member States within the scope of the CAP. The platform facilitates the checking of crops and cultivation on all agricultural parcels in an area of interest to determine whether farmers are fulfilling the commitments they made when requesting subsidies. Satellite imagery is used for the identification of parcels, the monitoring of cultivation stages and the identification of crop types. The platform can operate at a broad range of scales, from millions of parcels down to individual plots (pixels).
Technology
CAP area monitoring services leverage existing EU satellite data, namely from the Sentinel-1 (SLC and GRD) and Sentinel-2 (L1C and L2A) satellites, while custom services can be provided based on third-party data within CREODIAS. The platform connects users with the Copernicus browser, allowing the interactive exploration and downloading of Earth Observation data, and also features services, algorithms and code modules that can support the creation of an analysis pipeline, such as Application Programme Interfaces (APIs) and S3 access, to support the integration of visualization services within third-party applications. The availability of openEO and Jupyter Labs supports efficient code development.
Target
The main users of CAP Area Monitoring Services are EU bodies and national agencies, as well as researchers, policy evaluators and analysts, and private and public service providers.
Business model
CAP Area Monitoring Services are co-funded by the European Union and the Member States, with free access granted to registered individuals, competent authorities and EU institutions. Some services, such as the Copernicus browser, are accessible anonymously, without prior registration.
Impact
The CAP Area Monitoring Services provided by Copernicus are powerful tools supporting agricultural management and compliance monitoring within the European Union. The real-time monitoring of land use, crop conditions and environmental compliance is offered based on satellite data, allowing national authorities to accurately and efficiently ensure that farmers meet their CAP obligations. This remote-sensing capability reduces the need for on-site inspections, cutting down on administrative costs and increasing transparency and accountability in the distribution of subsidies. Farmers, on the other hand, benefit from the service through access to guidance on sustainable practices and the optimal use of resources, allowing them to meet environmental standards, and to respond proactively to such issues as drought or crop health concerns. Overall, CAP Area Monitoring Services have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable, data-driven agricultural sector, supporting the EU goals of environmental protection and food security.
Partners
European Earth Observation Programme (Copernicus); the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo); and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS)
Four Betters
Better production
Better nutrition
Better environment
Better life
