Tunis, May 5-7, 2026
The Sahara and Sahel Observatory, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), organized a training workshop on the WorldCereal crop mapping system. The workshop was launched with speeches by Mr. Mustapha Mimouni, OSS Information Technology and Remote Sensing Department Director, and Mr. Koen De Vos, an expert at VITO, who both emphasized the importance of technological innovation in agricultural monitoring.
The meeting brought together nearly 80 (in person and remote) participants, primarily from institutions and technical departments within the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, namely experts and specialists involved in monitoring agricultural campaigns and compiling agricultural statistics, as well as representatives from technical and scientific Organizations.
Participants were able to familiarize themselves with the Earth Observation data processing system—particularly time series data—within the WorldCereal tool, in a cloud computing environment, to generate thematic mapping products useful for crop monitoring, producing reliable agricultural statistics, and making decisions at various scales.
The workshop also included practical sessions, fieldwork, and exchange sessions, designed to build upon acquired knowledge and identify concrete opportunities for integration into crop mapping systems.
This hands-on training enabled participants to acquire operational skills covering the entire process, from field data collection to crop map production, utilizing satellite data from the Copernicus program and advanced analytical techniques, including artificial intelligence.
The workshop's outcomes aim to improve the production of reliable agricultural statistics, support evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems to food security challenges.
A joint roadmap developed by the OSS, ESA, VITO, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Maritime Fisheries was created to support the gradual nationwide rollout of the WorldCereal system and the continuation of capacity-building activities for a wider range of stakeholders.
The workshop was closed by Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, OSS Executive Secretary, and included a certificate presentation ceremony, marking a significant step towards operationalizing innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.