Rapid estimates of acreage on a European scale by remote sensing

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture (DG VI), is interested in obtaining rapid monthly estimates on a European level on the variation of acreage for a number of important crops throughout the season from March to November. The area variation estimates ...

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture (DG VI), is interested in obtaining rapid monthly estimates on a European level on the variation of acreage for a number of important crops throughout the season from March to November.

The area variation estimates are made on the basis of the analysis of satellite remote sensing data collected during the agricultural season over a number of sites in the European Union. The satellite images will be supplied by the Commission.

This action has been developed since 1988 as Action IV within the framework of the MARS project (Monitoring Agriculture by Remote Sensing) by the Commission's Joint Research Centre at Ispra. Action IV is now referred to as "Activity B - Rapid European estimates" according to Council Decision 94/753/EC of 14 November 1994 (OJ No L 299 of 22.11.1994).

The service also includes participation in monthly meetings in Ispra, where information derived from agrometeorological models, low resolution satellite data interpretation and other sources of information are interpreted in order to produce estimates for area and potential yield and production. DG VI is calling for proposals referring to the implementation of this activity for the period 1996-1998.

It is foreseen to conduct the activity for a period of three years organized into three phases of 12 months each. Only phase 1 (12 months) will be the object of a first contract. The release of phases 2 and 3 will depend upon the successful completion of the previous one and upon the availability of funds.
Requests for the tender documentation may be sent to:

European Commission
Joint Research Centre
Mr. P. Vossen
TP 441
I-21020 Ispra
Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]

Proposals must be forwarded to:

European Commission
Directorate-General for Agriculture
Mr. Saverio Torcasio
Unit VI/A-2 "Statistical information, economic analysis for forecasts"
130 rue de la Loi
B-1049 Brussels
Tel. [phone]; Fax [phone]