Now that the infrastructure of EU space programmes is well advanced, the Commission proposes a range of actions to allow Europeans to fully seize the benefits offered by space, create the right ecosystem for space start-ups to grow, promote Europe's leadership in space and increase its share on the world space markets.

From an agricultural perspective, the development of satellite and other space technology has considerable potential for improving economic and environmental performance. For farmers, GPS systems already allow tractors to take the optimal way over land – improving efficiencies and reducing input costs by avoiding overlaps. Another example is precision farming, where satellite data provides farmers with information about their crops and precisely where fertilisers or sprays need to be applied. The advances made in recent years are expected to continue in future. Space technology can also improve the future administration of farm policy – increasing the efficiency and the effectiveness of management and control systems for CAP payments, thus potentially reducing the number of on-farm inspections, while ensuring that public spending is managed correctly. 

A press release, factsheet and video are available online.

Source: europa.eu