GTIS CAP

GTIS CAPGeoTraceability Integrated System for the Common Agricultural Policy

Context

Within the framework of the Integrated Ad-ministrative and Control System (IACS) which forms the basis for managing subsidies allocated to producers as part of the CAP, complete Land Parcel Identification Systems (LPIS) have been implemented in the different member countries from 1 January 2005. (Council Reg. 1593/00). These systems combine a complete coverage of the territory with the help of “orthophotoplans” or high precision satellite images with a georeferenced vectorial parcel delineation. A unique code number is given to each parcel in order to provide a unique identification in space and time. This information is updated regularly in order to monitor the evolution of the land cover and the management of the crops. In this respect, all of the IACS systems used by the different member states represent complete geographical information systems that make it possible to check the information declared and the agro-environmental activities of the farmers. The knowledge regarding the agricultural territory that can be obtained by updating these tools, with an unequalled level of detail, results in a considerably improved decision support tool for policies governing agricultural management, land and the environment. The use of this information in connection with the LPIS geomatic references in order to provide solutions for the traceability of agricultural products constitutes a new opportunity to reinforce the competitiveness of EU agriculture. In addition to the production aspect, agriculture is expected to carry out activities relating to the management and maintenance of rural space, and even the protection of the quality of the environment. A range of proposals covering the improvement of the impact of the CAP on the environment has been progressively implemented in the different European countries. The agro-environmental programmes are the key strategies integrat-ing the environment as part of the agricultural policy.

Objectives

The overall goal of GTIS CAP is to demonstrate and promote the use of the IACS GIS / LPIS for a wide implementation of traceability systems at the farm / parcel level. These objectives are also to: 1. Identify the minimum information required for the implementation of the geographic traceability which should be exchanged within the framework of new regulations foreseen for 2005. 2. Define the characteristics of a geomatic referential for the agricultural traceability based on LPIS for the selected agricultural test regions. This referential should be presented in the form of a GIS incorporating in particular the complete land parcel database produced by the IACS of the test regions, the land use and its physiological context, the agricultural management systems and the information on the relevant agricultural practices. 3. Put forward acquisition, processing and presentation norms in order to structure the information gathered from different areas, multiple sources and scales into a geo-spatial database for geo-traceability. Results expected: Deliverable 3.1 “Recommendation on the use of common norms and standards. 4. Identify and evaluate temporal and spatio-temporal analysis tools using statistical software, maths and geographic and non-geographic information systems that will enable the monitoring of measures on the ground

Description of tasks

To achieve these goals, GTIS CAP will: • Determine workable georeferenced traceability data at the primary producer level; • Set up and demonstrate prototypes of integrated geotraceability systems; • Propose technical recommendations to support subsequent definition work in this field by DGs Agri and Sanco. The development of regional or national geospatial databases for the monitoring of geographical traceability of agricultural production also involves: • Qualifying georeferenced agricultural information as an essential tool for identifying and adding value to all products and services of the different vegetal sectors ; • Studying the integration of the traceability of animal and vegetal sectors. • Developing integration, visualization and distribution tools for geospatial data produced by the different IACS and their meta data.

Results obtained

- Report on the potentialities of high spatial and spectral resolution satellites for monitoring agriculture. - Definition of an infrastructure for the management of a spatial data and of a common reference system for geographical traceability. - Definition of indicators at the parcel level which can be aggregated at the farm level and used as management tools. - Definition of an universal geoidentifier for the management of geotraceability. - Definition of a metadata management system (METACAP) for the identification and the valorisation of information linked to the CAP and to geotraceability.

Contribution

- Scientific coordination of the project - Definition of an infrastructure for the management geographical traceability. - Definition of an universal geoidentifier - Definition of a metadata management system (METACAP)

Partners

The GTIS CAP consortium is coordinated by the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Gers, France and included 6 partners (administration, research centers, universities and one private company) from 2 EU countries: CRA-W – Centre wallon de Recherches agrono-miques– – Belgium SPOT IMAGE – France CIGEST – Belgium CDER - France ULg - Belgium ACTA INFORMATIQUE - France

Funding

• CE - DG Research - FP6