@techreport{JRC84660,
	number = {LB-NA-26385-EN-N},
	address = {Luxembourg (Luxembourg)},
	issn = {1831-9424},
	year = {2013},
	author = {Chukaliev O and Ramos F and Ceglar A and Niemeyer S},
	isbn = {978-92-79-34889-1},
	publisher = {Publications Office of the European Union},
	abstract = {The Workshop on crop yield forecasting in South East Europe (workshop CYFSEE) was organised in the frame of Enlargement & Integration Action of JRC. The workshop took place in Skopje from 30-31 May 2013. The objective of the workshop was to foster cooperation in the field of crop monitoring and yield forecasting. JRC is running the MARS Crop Yield Forecasting System (MCYFS) that will be extended to Acceding and Candidate Countries as well as to the European Neighbourhood Region. The workshop was attended by 35 participants from 13 countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, FYR of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine). Moreover, three representatives from JRC participated to the workshop.  
		During the first working day JRC representatives presented existing tools in use for operational crop yield forecasting and research activities within the MARS unit: Crop Growth Modelling System CGMS, the Bio-physical Model Applications platform BioMA and MARS Viewer. The main aim of the second working day was to assess state with crop monitoring and yield forecasting in SEE. Moreover, presenters from new member states (Romania and Bulgaria) as well as from other member states from the region (Hungary, Slovenia and Poland) were invited to present on going activities in their countries. Participants presented 24 presentations covering various topics related to crop yield forecasting. Some of the presenters presented meteorological, phenological or soil data availability in their countries or presented use of these data in their scientific and operational work (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Turkey). Other participants presented operational use of crop models and other tools in crop monitoring and crop yield forecasting (Turkey, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, BiH). Various tools are in use like CropSyst, AgroMetShell, Wofost, and some in house developed tools. Some of the presenters addressed crop statistic in their countries (Turkey, BiH). The remote sensing data are in operational use in some of the new member countries (Bulgaria, Romania) but not in SEE countries approaching EU except Ukraine and Turkey. Finally, several experts presented high quality in house developed tools (models, systems) for crop monitoring and crop yield-forecasting (Turkey, Serbia, Ukraine). Most of the presenters include interesting results of their previous and current research activities.
		Future activities should be targeted in fostering cooperation in crop yield forecasting in the region. One of the most appreciated activities will be to organize one training session on using BioMA in 2014. Proposal for organizing such training in Kiev (Ukraine) next year within the conference "Earth observation for sustainable development” should be seriously considered  as one of the future activities that will meet needs of SEE experts and institutions in further development of crop monitoring and forecasting.  Collaboration in mutual projects was one of the most frequently expressed idea for further cooperation initiated during this workshop as well as stated in the evaluation forms. The list of participants with their contact details is part of this report and also stored within MARS files and will serve as list of contact points for future. Participants positively evaluated the workshop, and found it as relevant for their future work. 
		This report contains complete information on the workshop, as well as agenda, list of the participants, results from the evaluation forms and links to all presentations.
		},
	title = {Final report Workshop on crop yield forecasting