Key Takeaways
- EuroCrops database contains geo-referenced polygons of agricultural croplands from 16 EU countries.
- The data includes information on crop species sourced from farmers under the European Commission‘s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
- Over the last 1.5 years, national crop datasets have been manually collected and translated into English.
- The data is organized under the newly developed Hierarchical Crop and Agriculture Taxonomy (HCAT).
- EuroCrops is publicly available and continuously updated through an active user community.
A recent study by Schneider et al., published in 2023, introduces EuroCrops, a comprehensive database containing geo-referenced polygons of agricultural croplands across 16 European Union (EU) countries. The database aims to provide valuable information on the types of crops grown in these areas, offering insights for various stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Data Collection and Methodology
The data in EuroCrops is derived from self-declarations by farmers who receive subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Commission (EC). Over the past 1.5 years, researchers have manually collected individual national crop datasets. These crop classes have been translated into the English language for broader accessibility.
Hierarchical Crop and Agriculture Taxonomy (HCAT)
One of the significant contributions of the study is the development of the Hierarchical Crop and Agriculture Taxonomy (HCAT). This taxonomy serves as an organizational framework for the data, making navigating and understanding the various crop types and agricultural practices across the EU more accessible.
Public Availability and User Community
EuroCrops is not just a static database; it is publicly available and under continuous improvement through contributions from an active user community. This ensures that the data remains up-to-date and relevant for various applications, from academic research to policy formulation.
Implications and Future Directions
The EuroCrops database is a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and agricultural practitioners. Its comprehensive nature and the involvement of an active user community make it a reliable source for understanding agricultural trends and practices across the EU.
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Photo by Bob Brewer on Unsplash
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