A new re-structuring across the JRC has taken place on 1st Jan 2012, following the implementation of the new JRC Strategy 2010-2020.
The Monitoring Agricultural ResourceS (MARS) Unit Mission
Focusing on crop production, agricultural activities and rural development, the MARS Unit provides timely forecasts, early assessments and the scientific underpinning for efficient monitoring and control systems. The work serves the Agriculture and Food policies of the European Union, their impact on rural economies and on the environment, encompassing the global issues of food security and climate change.
In Focus
MARS 2012
Job Opportunities
MARS Unit - new CAST Research call is open - Post-doc researchers are needed
Latest News & Events
UPDATED = Job opening for Grant Holders - 17th May 2013
The MARS Unit has still 1 open position for Scientific Researcher.
Future of Farm Advisory Services, Delivering Innovative Systems
The workshop is jointly organised by Teagasc (the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority) and University College Dublin, with the technical support of the Joint Research Centre (Monitoring Agricultural Resources Unit). The workshop will be held in Dublin (Ir...
Control Methods Workshop (Kick-off meeting control campaign 2013)
Next 8-9 April, @ Hotel Palace, Varese, Member States Paying Agencies & Control Authorities meet JRC MARS to discuss the coming campaign, still giving a look behind (last campaign final figures) and forward (possible challenges of control bodies for CAP 'greening'). First half-day will be...
MARS Unit - new CAST Research call is open - Post-doc researchers are needed
A new CAST call has been launched for scientific profiles.
GNSS Workshop 2012
Thanks to GSA (European GNSS Agency) and SZIF (CZ Paying Agency ) the GNSS workshop will be held in Prague. It is the yearly rendez-vous for the CAP controls GNSS community. This year particular focus on EGNOS and Galileo. The workshop will be completed by a field exercise in Praha surroundin...
Latest Bulletins & Publications
Mars Bulletin Vol. 21 No. 5 (Crop Monitoring in Europe - 21 May 2013)
Crops recuperated much of the previous delay
Crop and pasture monitoring bulletin on Eritrea - April 2013
This issue provides an assessment of the Bahri season, a short rainy season that takes place in the eastern lowlands and escarpments of the Northern Red Sea Zone between November and February. Although it is not a main agricultural season, these rains are extremely important for lives...
Eritrea_April2013.pdf 3.29 MB
Geosys, 2000, Assessment of agricultural land-use for 2000 crop campaign in KOSOVO, using satellite imagery. JRC contract report.
The study is in keeping with the general pattern of partnership developed between the FAO and EU to help crisis situations as Kosovo.
This study combines the operational and methodology components.
Operational objectives are:
1- Estimated winter crops acreage for 2000 campa...
Kosovo_spring00.pdf 792.69 kB
Mars Bulletin Vol. 21 No. 4 (Crop Monitoring in Europe - 22 April 2013)
Delayed crop cycle in large parts of Europe
Mars Bulletin Vol. 21 No. 3 (Crop Monitoring in Europe - 25 March 2013)
General promising start to the season but continued cold spells over Europe