A new digital tool for checking farmers' compliance with the CAP requirements
The overall objective for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) period 2021-2027 is to move from the process of controlling the agricultural activity compliance with the requirements to the increase of operational efficiency as well as prevention of irregularities by applying innovative technologies that enable performing the assigned functions in the most efficient way, replacing human and administrative resources by automated processes, creating new and simpler services for farmers.
The Area Monitoring System (AMS) should be in place to achieve the above objective. AMS requires joining the satellite observation data (e.g., from Copernicus) with GIS data originating from territorial Land Parcel Identification Systems (LPIS). One part of AMS, Checks by Monitoring (CBM), which is based on satellite data and photos sent by farmers about the carried out agricultural activities, is in the process of implementation. CBM enables farmers and the public to access data used in the processes of administration and control of the European Union (EU) and national support, thus ensuring overall transparency in decision-making. It allows to use the spatial data for more efficient farm management and, most importantly, for reduction of number of sanctions against real farmers, since they will be immediately notified of any discrepancies, thus getting time for rectification.
The Paying Agencies (PA’s) in their approach for launching the CAP AMS on time are currently investigating implementation solutions for Copernicus and commercial satellite data access as well as its processing. The ongoing projects contribute extensively to the implementation of AMS through modernisation of Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) by making efficient use of digital solutions and e-tools, by creating reliable methodologies and harmonised data sets for monitoring agricultural performance while reducing administrative burden for farmers, PA’s and other stakeholders. The objective will be achieved by providing a suite of digital solutions, e-tools and good practices for e-governance.
The outcomes of all these projects will be used by NPA for more transparent, effective and goal-oriented CAP implementation, also by farmers and policy makers to manage local and national microclimate effects more efficiently in support of a shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy in the agriculture.
One of these projects, the EU-funded DIONE project, aiming to develop a direct payment controlling toolbox for PA’s to abide by the modernised CAP regulations, involving novel techniques that will improve the capabilities of satellite technology while integrating various data sources (drones, soil sensors and mobile applications), has been successfully completed. In the final stage of the project all project activities have been focused on testing the project's main product called "DIONE Toolbox" which includes crop type map, mowing / harvest / ploughing marker maps, biophysical parameters of crops, non-productive EFA map of high-quality detail, permanent pastures map, farms' geo-tagged photos, orthoimagery from drones, soil data from spectrometers, soil map (degradation indicators), compliance monitoring and environmental performance assessment indicators. With the support of the national PA’s, testing has been taking place in Cyprus and Lithuania.
Here is the link to the press release with the description of the DIONE toolbox services and more:
https://dione-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/DIONE-Press-Release-EN-1.pdf
Last updated: 17-10-2023
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