Farmers under scrutiny by the eye in the sky

Area Monitoring System uses computer algorithms to decide on the accuracy of declarations by farmers in their applications for payments

The AMS also looks for lack of evidence of agricultural activity such as rearing livestock or growing crops, or maintenance of the agricultural area — for compliance, land eligible for payment must be used for an agricultural activity.

Does the camera ever lie? Yes, sometimes, when it is on a satellite hundreds of kilometres high in the sky, monitoring European farms.

Since, January 1, 2023, regular and systematic observation and assessment of agricultural activities and practices by Copernicus Sentinel satellites has been a mandatory feature of the Common Agriculture Policy for EU member states.