Policy Monitoring Tool

The Policy Monitoring tool provides policy makers with a visual policy monitoring dashboard, allowing the generation of analytical reports based on queries, including summary tables as well as graphical charts. The tool integrates and renders data at a regional level (Local Administrative Units – LAUs or Communes) derived from anonymized and aggregated in-situ information from 12 selected QuantiFarm test cases. This includes information from parcels utilizing Digital Agriculture Technological Solutions (DATSs), parcels not employing DATs, farm calendar exports, and digital logs. A total of 50 variables derived from QuantiFarm test cases are classified into 13 categories for easier filtering and visualization.

Earth Observation (EO) data products such as crop type maps and European land use data (e.g., from ESA WorldCover and CORINE Land Cover) are used as inputs, along with open European GIS datasets (e.g., GISCO) and policy monitoring sources such as FADN and Eurostat. Additional reference data includes global agricultural information from platforms such as the FAO’s Crop Information database. These sources collectively support the regional extrapolation of aggregated key indicators, variables, or thresholds that enable both qualitative and quantitative comparisons of regional policy performance.

From a wider perspective, the tool functionalities revolve around the following three pillars:

• Generalised Indicators Tracking: Involves the collection and aggregation of in situ data, focusing on variables such as agrochemicals use, irrigation practices, costs etc. to gauge the environmental, social or economic impact of regional agricultural activities
• DATS vs. Non-DATS Parcel Performance: Involves the calculations to evaluate the effectiveness of Digital Agriculture Technologies (DATSs) compared to traditional farming methods that don't use DATSs
• Regional Benchmarking: Involves integrating established regional benchmark values/thresholds derived from various heterogeneous sources providing a contextual understanding of the region's “standing”