GTA Objectives and Methods

The research team already has access to a wide range of data which could improve rural environmental management. These relate to land use and cover, topography, climatology, soil type, hydrographic network, yields, etc. These characteristics, combined with the cropping practices used between and within plots (variety, fertilization, harvest date, etc), are key elements for describing agricultural produce and its environmental impact.

However, recent technological advances (development of remote aero-spatial or built-in sensors, yield sensors, Global Positioning Systems or GPS, etc) are having a major impact on how geospatial data is acquired, processed and represented. In order to maximise the benefits of these advances a method for obtaining, integrating and analysing geospatial data from these sensors must be developed. In addition, the data obtained by the different advisers and farmers should be compatible. It is also essential that the appropriate scales for sampling should be defined, as should the procedures to combine and aggregate the different scales of the geospatial data.

In summary, there is a huge amount of data from numerous sources (field and sensor information, maps, yield, soil proprieties, aerial photography, GPS etc), and this is presented in a large number of different formats (point, raster and vector format as well as metadata - table, graph, report etc).

If the method and format used for obtaining data were standardized, this would greatly encourage exchanges between the users, whether they be farmers, advisors, agronomists, distributors or others. To aid this process, GeoTraceAgri proposes to develop a structured methodology for sampling, applying and processing georeferenced data which will provide georeferenced agro-environmental indicators at different scales.

GeoTraceAgri will also take the human dimension into account by giving priority to a participative approach and to interaction between all the stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The approach will be validated and demonstrations will be held which should help to raise awareness among farmers and the public. The project should also aid people's understanding of the rural heritage by improving the use, access and management of geographic information.

The GeoTraceAgri programme has four objectives:

1. To define the indicators and determine the classes of georeferenced indicators relevant to traceability. This will be done in terms of the different agricultural sectors and as a function of the different scales of the spatial reference (plot, field, catchment area and the region of guarantee of origin). Using the plant sector as a pilot, this will involve:
1. Selecting criteria or classes of criteria which would allow adequate traceability and would benefit from georeferencing in terms of the interoperability of tools and data.
2. Developing standards for data collection, processing and representation in order to structure information taken from different sources and scales within a geospatial database for traceability.
2. To set up a geomatic data set for agricultural traceability (SIGTA) for each of the chosen sectors in the pilot agricultural regions. The data set will be presented in the form of a geographic information system (GIS). This will include a cadastral or plot database, land use and its physiographic characteristics, maps of the pilot farms and information on the relevant agricultural practices.
   Setting up the GIS with the help of matrices with a graphic (cadastral) and geographic reference (land use, Digital Elevation Model or DEM, farm map, etc), implies:
1. Qualifying the georeferenced agricultural information as an essential tool for identifying and developing all the products and services from the different plant sectors.
2. Developing tools to integrate visualize and diffuse geospatial traceability data and metadata from the SIGTA.
3. Setting up geo-data bases on a regional and local scale.
3. To develop the computerised infrastructure for geographic traceability. In particular, this would mean that a geographic search using intranet, extranet or internet sites would provide secure communication reserved for all the stakeholders in the traceability chain and public communication for the consumers.
4. To determine whether the approach is transferable to animal and marine sectors with the help of users representing these other sectors.