Plan for a new Sen4CAP module for calculation of agri-environmental indicators for large areas as a result of collaboration with the H2020 NIVA project.

The primary purpose of Sen4CAP processing chain is automated Monitoring of agricultural practices, the establishment of Reports, and the Verification of CAP declarations (known as MRV). Nevertheless, the use of remote sensing in the next CAP will probably not be limited to the MRV.

In the framework of the H2020 NIVA project, and at the request of the DGs Agri, Climate and Environment, methods for calculating agri-environmental indicators based on the use of Sentinel data will be tested in several countries via a collaboration between the French Paying Agency (ASP), the IGN and three INRAe laboratories (CESBIO, DYNAFOR, LBAE). Of the twelve indicators proposed by these laboratories, three have been considered as priorities: C budget, biodiversity and nitrate leaching risk. The algorithms used to calculate these agri-environmental indicators for large areas will soon be integrated as a module in the SEN4CAP processing chain.

The module for monitoring and calculating agri-environmental indicators could be very useful to farmers by enabling them to establish agronomic diagnostics on a plot-by-plot basis and thus to improve their practices (input modulation, improvement of soil fertility, etc.) and their net margins.

Check the Theia Bulletin article (pages 8-9) for more details.