Recent climate changes have caused agricultural producers to face significantly greater risks, both in terms of crop production and livestock breeding. Droughts are increasingly jeopardizing the livelihood of rural populations in arid and semi-arid areas. The dry periods of 2001–2003 and 2007–2008 caused, in Central Asia alone, the most devastating droughts in the history of the region, engendering numerous social and economic problems. In China and Mongolia, too, droughts are increasingly affecting the agricultural use of available land. In 2018, temperate zones, such as Central Europe, also suffered from droughts, although the extent remains unknown. According to IPCC predictions, the growing pattern of extreme weather is expected to worsen in the coming years in many parts of the world.
Worldwide, governments, industry and science are being called upon to reduce climate risks and mitigate the effects of extreme climate shocks. For its part, agriculture can contribute to greater climate resilience through efficient resource management and advancements in breeding. A further form of market-based risk management is index-based agricultural insurance, which provides businesses with financial security in case of crop failure. However, both market-based climate management and state intervention (e.g. disaster relief) require exact information on yields. The central challenge here is a timely appraisal of the damage, in order to quickly and efficiently take steps towards rectifying the situation. The digital revolution provides possible solutions to these problems, notably through different forms of data collection, processing and communication with end-users. While the range of available technology is large, there remain, in both emerging and developed markets, numerous obstacles to its implementation, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness, data security and networking.
The planned expert panel presents digital solutions for dealing with harvest losses caused by effects of climatic change. The panel analyzes implementation obstacles and discusses new approaches and previous experiences. One focus in the debate will be on experiences in Ukraine, Southeastern Europe, Central Asia and China. From this perspective, conclusions for other regions of the world should be drawn. Simultaneous interpretation in German, English and Chinese language will be provided.
PROGRAMME
Opening remarks
Michael Stübgen, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), Germany
Keynote
“Digital technologies for risk management – Technical opportunities and implementation challenges”
Dr. Lena Kuhn, Research Associate, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Germany
Panel discussion
Dr. Olga Trofimtseva, Vice-Minister, Ministry for Agricultural Policy and Food, Ukraine
Dr. Qu Dongyu, Vice-Minister, Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China
Xu Zhenyu, Chairman of the Board, Anhui Longcom Internet of Things Co., China
Lionel Born, Chief Strategy Officer, Spacenus GmbH, Germany
Alexa Mayer-Bosse, Head Of Business Development and Origination, Agro and Weather Risks, Munich Re, Germany
Dr. Lena Kuhn, Research Associate, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Germany
Moderation
Torsten Spill, Co-Chair of the German Agribusiness Alliance at German Eastern Business Association, Germany
11th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA)
“Agriculture Goes Digital – Smart Solutions for Future Farming”
17 - 19 January 2019 ǀ Berlin, Germany
