Modernisation of Agricultural statistics

ended

SURS is a member of the European Statistical System and compiles EU agricultural statistics. Today agricultural statistics cover the following main aspects: structure of agricultural holdings, agriculture production (crop and animal, organic), economical aspect of agriculture (agricultural prices, economic accounts for agriculture) and agri-environmental aspects (nutrients, pesticides). The important aim of the EU agricultural statistics is to monitor and evaluate the common agricultural policy (CAP) and other important EU policies, and to support policy-making. In order to adapt to new needs and improve the quality of data provided (implementation of the new regulation on Statistics on Agricultural Input and Output – SAIO), we must adapt existing systems and make better use of available sources. In this relation, we would like to use EU funds to help implement SAIO requirements regarding the provision of statistical data on crop balances. With the activities, we would like to achieve two main goals: to technically renew the process of collecting a certain segment of data, which is necessary for providing crop balances (technical optimization refers to the transition to e-reporting of data that we collect directly from food processing companies, which will lower the overall burden and optimize the collection process), and to methodologically adapt the calculation of crop balances data to SAIO requirements. At the same time, we would also strive for some other improvements related to the data sources involved in crop balances. That is why we will organize the activities in the form of two meaningful work packages. The project’s contribution to the priorities of the call is amending the agricultural statistics system for implementing currently voluntary data collections (crop balances particular) that are integrated into new legislation, including cooperation with research institution.