Development cooperation
Vegetation map of Central Africa
JRC's work in this area is focused on establishing monitoring systems which maintain an intelligent watch on the conditions of resources and the environment in Developing Countries. For example, the monitoring of countries stricken by food shortage to assist with food-related aid delivery. The JRC develops crop models based on agro-meteorological, statistical and satellite data. It also provides scientific and technical support to EU-funded food security programmes. The scope of this research is global, with a special focus on Africa. All these actions are closely interlinked with other EC-funded activities and international programmes. The JRC co-operates with major actors in this field such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), EUMETSAT, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Space Agency.