Description
The FaST (Farm Sustainability Tool) platform, supported by the European Union, hosts digital tools that support sustainable nutrient management, making use of satellite data (from Copernicus and Galileo) in support of the agricultural and environmental initiatives under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). FaST supports decision-making, resource management and regulatory compliance among farmers, offering such features as satellite imagery, fertilization recommendations and climate data, and connects farmers, advisors and paying agencies for data sharing and the simplification of administrative processes. The platform has been established as part of the European “Farm to Fork” strategy – one of the central pillars of the European Green Deal. As part of the CAP support to Farm Advisory Services (Article 15.4(b) to the Regulation (EU) 2021/2115), EU countries are to make a Farm Sustainability Tool for nutrients (FaST) platform available to the farmers from 2024 at the latest.
Technology
FaST is a modular platform offering solutions based on machine learning applied to satellite image recognition, and the use and reuse of Internet of things (IoT) data, various public sector data sources and user-generated data. FaST is available as a custom mobile application and web portal that can be accessed from any internet-connected computer. The following technical capabilities are offered: visualization of maps overlaid with farm data and GIS layers, including custom government-published maps; Copernicus/Sentinel imagery: RGB+NDVI; campaign management, through the import of farmer data; fertilization recommendations; geo-tagged photos; two-way communication between paying agencies and farmers; basic weather/climate monitoring; user management; and reporting.
Target
The main target groups of FaST are farmers, CAP paying agencies, CAP managing authorities, policymakers, policy evaluators, farm advisors, civil society organizations, research centres, commercial service developers and providers of digital solutions. Users can access FaST either via a mobile application or an administration portal, but must be authenticated and must create a user account to access their data. To make the lives of farmers easier, FaST builds on systems they already know and use. For authentication, FaST endeavours to reuse existing Paying Agency login systems or national login systems, thus avoiding double inputs and removing the need for farmers to remember additional credentials. FaST authenticates its users through a login+password combination.
Business model
The FaST platform is supported by the European Commission’s DG Agriculture and Rural Development, by the EU Space Programme (DG DEFIS), by the EU ISA Programme (DG DIGIT), and by the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, and works in collaboration with the paying agencies in the EU nations. The platform can be accessed free of charge by farmers, paying agencies and farm advisors.
Impact
As of November 2024, there is limited data on the use and impacts of the FaST platform. Its widespread use by the beneficiaries of nutrient management-related CAP interventions is expected to contribute to the objective of reducing fertiliser use by at least 20 percent and nutrient losses from both organic and mineral fertilisers by at least 50 percent by 2030, while ensuring no deterioration in soil fertility.
Partners
EU Member States; Copernicus; European Commission’s DG Agriculture and Rural Development; EU Space Programme (DG DEFIS); EU ISA Programme (DG DIGIT); Copernicus; Galileo; PwC France
Four Betters
Better production
Better nutrition
Better environment
