Challenge

Every Flemish farmer receiving "direct aid" within the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is obliged to comply with a number of climate- and environment-friendly principles and practices with a view to sustainable, viable and competitive agriculture. These include, for example, crop diversification, grassland conservation and the creation of ecological focus areas.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries monitors the proper and timely implementation of these types of policies. Currently, monitoring is based on sampling in the field.

High-resolution images from various satellites are able to quickly map the right information. This allows better monitoring, guidance and control of farmers. Also possible crop damage due to drought or flooding can be objectified faster.

The project was given the title CAPSAT: CAP stands for 'Common Agricultural Policy' and SAT for 'satellite'.