Italy – Agricultural services – Operational Support to In-Season Crop Monitoring and Yield Forecasting Activities (MARSOP7)

The purpose of the tender is to contract operational services related to the crop monitoring and yield forecasting activities of the JRC.D.5 unit (MARSOP). Implementing Article 25 of the horizontal regulation of the Common Agricultural Policy REG (EU) 2021/2116 on Monitoring Agricultural Resources (MARS), JRC.D.5 provides DG AGRI with timely, independent, and high-quality information on crop state and development, including quantitative forecasts of agricultural yields and production in the EU and neighbouring countries. This information is used by DG AGRI to ensure food security and for decision-making in agricultural markets. The JRC provides matching staff for agricultural analysts and experts producing monthly JRC MARS Bulletins for Commission-internal and public use, which are well received by private sector stakeholders, academics and the general public. Such services have been outsourced since 2000 (MAROSP1-6), financed through a co-delegation with DG AGRI. The operational services sustain the operation and further development of the MARS Crop Yield Forecasting System (MCYFS) at the heart of the crop monitoring activities at D.5. For the current procurement, we plan to organize the operational services for the MARS System in three different lots: - Lot 1: Meteorological Services, Lot 2: Remote Sensing Services, Lot 3: Crop Modelling and Statistics.