MARS web viewer

Introduction

For the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Commission needs timely information on the agricultural production to be expected in the current season. This is a main concern of the MARS-project (Monitoring Agricultural Resources) of the AGRI4CAST and FOODSEC Actions of the Directorate General Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission in Ispra (Italy).

The MARS web viewer offers wide variety of information about the current agricultural season in Europe and other important agricultural areas in the world. To get access you have to register.

Available products include:

Graphs and maps of weather indicators based on observations and numerical weather models
Graphs and maps of crop indicators based on agro-meteorological models
Graphs and maps of vegetation indices and cumulated dry matter based on remote sensing images

MARS contact point
contact
Fax: +39-0332-78-3033
Tel. +39-0332-78-5471
JRC - Institute for Environment and Sustainability, T.P. 266
I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/The-MARS-Unit

Below the two Actions AGRI4CAST and FOODSEC are introduced:

AGRI4CAST
The AGRI4CAST action is centred on the JRC's crop yield forecasting system aiming at providing accurate and timely crop yield forecasts and crop production biomass for the union territory and other strategic areas of the world. The rationale behind the crop forecasts at EU level is based on the lack of timely information to take rapid decision on CAP instruments during the year.

AGRI4CAST has been developing and operationally running a Crop Forecasting System since 1992 in order to provide timely crop production forecasts at European level. This system is able to monitor crop vegetation growth (cereal, oil seed crops, protein crops, sugar beet, potatoes, pastures, rice) and include the short-term effects of meteorological events on crop productions and to provide yearly yield forecasts on European crops.

The AGRI4CAST system, also known as the MARS Crop Yield Forecasting System, is made by remote sensing and meteorological observations, agro-meteorological modelling (Crop Growth Monitoring System (CGMS), MARS Model Library) and statistical analysis tools.

FOODSEC
Food Security in the poorer countries of the world is a main concern for European Citizens as reflected by the leading role of the European Union in the international donor community with a yearly contribution of 500MEuro. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 815 million people worldwide are chronically food-insecure, while a further 5-10% of the population is at risk of "acute" food insecurity by natural and man-made crises.

The FOODSEC action has developed since 2001, in cooperation with the AGRI4CAST action and in the framework of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) initiative, a system for regional monitoring and forecasting in various parts of the world. During an initial phase (2001 - 2004), the following four pilot areas were covered: Russia and the New Independent States, the Mediterranean Basin, Eastern Africa and South America (MERCOSUR countries plus Bolivia). Since 2005 the system has been extended to food insecure areas worldwide.

Legal Notice
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use, which might be made of the information presented here.