A new review was published in Remote Sensing by the Czech University of Life Sciences, a partner of the EU-funded GUARDIANS project. The article explores how remote sensing technologies have evolved over the past fifteen years for monitoring agricultural crops across Central Europe. The study focuses on key applications including crop mapping, phenology analysis, yield estimation, drought and stress detection, and land-use change monitoring.
Combining satellite data for a clearer picture
Among the technologies examined, Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite data have become fundamental tools for crop monitoring. Sentinel-2 provides detailed optical information that can be used to identify crops and track their development throughout the growing season. However, optical observations can be limited by cloud cover, particularly during critical phases of crop growth.
This is where Sentinel-1 radar data can play an important complementary role. By combining optical and radar observations, monitoring can remain more consistent even under adverse weather conditions, while providing a more robust picture of agricultural landscapes.
The review also highlights the value of integrating satellite observations with agricultural parcel databases, machine learning techniques and climate data. These combined approaches can improve crop classification and help assess how climate variability is affecting agricultural production.
From monitoring to better decisions
The potential of these technologies goes beyond simply observing crops from space. More integrated remote sensing frameworks can support near-real-time monitoring and decision-making, helping farmers and other stakeholders identify changes in crop conditions and respond to emerging challenges.
They can also contribute to wider agricultural governance, including monitoring agricultural policies and verifying compliance with the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). At the same time, increasingly detailed information on crop conditions can support more evidence-based farm management.
This is particularly relevant in Central Europe, where agricultural landscapes can be highly heterogeneous, with fragmented fields, different management practices and significant variations in climate conditions.
Towards smarter and more climate-resilient agriculture
Looking ahead, the authors expect further progress through advanced time-series analysis, machine learning and the integration of remote sensing with agrometeorological information and crop models. As climate change increases the frequency of drought and contributes to greater variability in agricultural yields, these technologies could become increasingly important for anticipating risks and supporting more resilient farming systems.
The review highlights how the combination of satellite observations, data and digital technologies is opening new possibilities for understanding agricultural systems – and for turning this information into practical tools for farmers, policymakers and other stakeholders.
The article, “Monitoring of Agricultural Crops by Remote Sensing in Central Europe: A Comprehensive Review”, was published in Remote Sensing in 2026 by Jitka Kumhálová, Jiří Sedlák, Jiří Marčan, Věra Vandírková, Petr Novotný, Matěj Kohútek and František Kumhála.
Read the full article here.
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