The National Microdiggers Programme is a key to the transition of the agricultural sector to a new era of transparency, accuracy and efficiency.
As Greece is facing a multi-level technological transformation that starts in space and ends in the field, the most recent confirmation of this path came on March 30, 2026, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying five Greek microsatellites, among others.
As Greece is facing a multi-level technological transformation that starts in space and ends in the field, the most recent confirmation of this path came on March 30, 2026, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying five Greek microsatellites.
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It was the third successful launch in less than a year, following the placement of DUTHSat-2 in orbit in June 2025 and the launch of five more satellites in November of that year (2 SAR radars, 2 PHASMA satellites and maritime MICE-1).
A total of 11 Greek satellites (nine cubesatellites and two operational radar satellites) are already in orbit. And this is just the beginning: from the end of April 2026 onwards, thermal and multispectral satellites will start to be placed in orbit, with the aim of exceeding 20 satellites by the end of 2026, paving the way for very important applications.
“Technology becomes a tool for justice”
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Behind this ambitious programme is the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, which has been tasked with centrally coordinating the country’s space strategy, linking it directly to critical sectors of the economy. With a budget of up to €200 million and the participation of Greek universities, research centres and high-tech companies, the programme is shaping a domestic innovation ecosystem with a tangible impact on production.
“Greece is entering a new era for the agricultural sector, making substantial use of the data offered by space. Through the National Microsatellite Programme, we are creating for the first time a reliable satellite background on which critical tools such as the new high-precision digital map and the annual crop map are being built.
“This data is not just images. It is the basis for objective decisions, fair payments and effective controls. For the first time, the state can know exactly what is happening in the field, reducing ambiguity and injustice. Our aim is to turn information into trust: to support the consistent producer, simplify procedures and increase transparency. Technology becomes a tool of justice and digital transformation acquires a real imprint on the farmer’s daily life,” Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou told APPE-MPA.
From space to the field
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If there is one sector where the impact of this strategy is immediate, it is the agricultural sector. The use of satellite data, combined with artificial intelligence tools, is radically changing the way crops in the country are recorded, monitored and enhanced
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The Action Plan for agricultural subsidies, which is being implemented under the responsibility of the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence and the General Secretariat of Telecommunications and Post, aims to finally solve chronic problems that have plagued both farmers and the public administration. The focus is on replacing outdated methods with modern, scientifically based procedures based on accurate geospatial data.
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Progress to date has been particularly rapid, with the digital infrastructure component progressing faster than originally planned. Visualisation backgrounds, satellite data and crop mapping make up a new digital basis for the operation of the agricultural sector.
The new digital map: half-metre accuracy
A key element of this transition is the new digital satellite map of the country. It is a single mosaic of images covering the entire Greek territory, with a spatial resolution of up to 0.5 metres, the highest ever achieved in the country.
The creation of this map is a titanic technical task. High-resolution satellite data collected from multiple sensors underwent geometric and radiometric correction using ground control points and a corrected digital terrain model. The panchromatic and multispectral data were combined into four-channel orthophoto (RGB-NIR) maps, which were then integrated into a seamless mosaic.
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This new digital map will now form the main basis for the AADE/OPEKEEPE for farmers’ declarations, but also a new level of information for the Land Registry. Practically, every farmer will see the latest satellite data in his field and every declaration will be checked through objective, digital data. The process of production, quality control and monitoring of the landmarks is carried out in constant coordination with DG AGRI, the competent European agency, ensuring full harmonization with European requirements.
For the first time with such precision, the Greek state knows what is on the ground: crops, pastures, greenhouses, buildings, photovoltaic parks, rocky and watery areas.
These images are gradually being aligned with other public data such as the Land Registry, which provides the exact boundaries and legal identity of each parcel of land. The coupling of satellite background and cadastral data creates a secure digital environment for any transaction with the public sector.
The first integrated crop map
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Along with the digital map, something equally innovative is presented for the first time: the annual crop map for all of Greece in 2025. This is a complete mapping of every cultivated area in the country, created through artificial intelligence and satellite data.
The annual 2025 annual crop map for the country is the first of its kind.
How does it work? The process starts by collecting multi-spectral data on at least a monthly basis, covering the entire growing season. Then the approximately 6 million OPEKEPE farmer declarations are filtered through strict geometric rules and spectral criteria to identify errors and discrepancies. In this way, a reliable training sample is generated for machine learning algorithms.
Sorting algorithms identify crops create a map based on the agronomic and phenological characteristics of each crop — that is, how each plant grows during the year. This map will be a critical tool for the AADE/OPECEE. They will be able to objectively assess whether farmers’ declarations correspond to reality, identifying discrepancies between declared and actual crops.
Practically, a field declared as wheat but shown by satellite as an olive grove will be automatically identified. This means fairness for the honest farmer who correctly declares his production and preventing abuses that harm both consistent producers and public coffers.
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The methodology followed is scientifically sound: The analysis is based on time series of multispectral data — that is, it tracks how each parcel evolves month by month over the course of the entire growing season. Each statement is evaluated based on the spectral “signature” of the crop — i.e., how each plant species reflects light at different stages of growth. In this way, algorithms can distinguish, for example, a wheat field from a barley field, or a wine vineyard from a table grape vineyard.
