FAO recommends Europe and Central Asia to make agriculture more digital and organic
The 31st session of the Regional conference for Europe has completed its work in Russian city of Voronezh. The forum of the largest international food organization was attended by the ministers of agriculture, relevant officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations, agricultural experts, scientists from FAO member countries in the region of Europe and Central Asia.
The agenda of the forum covered the main challenges of food security in the vast region, which geographically includes 53 countries and extends from Lisbon to Vladivostok and from the Polar circle to the Pamir mountains in Central Asia.
Noting the role of the conference in determining methods to strengthen the sustainability of agricultural sectors in European and Central Asian countries in a changing climate, Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General, pointed to the fact that, against the background of the growing global hunger problem, the region as a whole has made significant progress in improving food security. However, there is still a significant gap between some countries and over 14 million people still experience difficulties in accessing food. In addition, a number of countries face with malnutrition problems such as undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity.
How to minimize food losses and waste? How to prevent the negative impact of agricultural development on nature? How to cope with poor nutrition and obesity? These issues, in addition to topics such as the impact of climate change on ecosystems, risk management, agroecology and organic farming, have become the main points of discussions.
As a response to contemporary challenges, FAO proposes that the region "digitize" agriculture as soon as possible. This implies the active introduction of information and communication technologies throughout the food chain - from production to food consumption.
In parallel with the complexity of farming processes, the number of difficulties faced by farmers is growing. Timely data calculation, for example, with the help of special mobile applications, can help to improve the quality of crop production, productivity and animal health, and eventually to raise the standards of life of farmers.
As the participants of the Conference noted, e-agriculture can become one of the tools to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. At the same time, FAO emphasizes that all without exception - from small farms to large complexes - should be connected to digitalization.
FAO encourages member countries to share positive experiences and findings on e-agriculture.
A special session of the forum was focused on promoting food quality through organic farming. This method of agriculture is aimed at reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and nutrients. Organic farming aims at maintaining soil health and ecology through mineral nutrition, pest and weed control, use of organic fertilizers and various land cultivation methods.
The Conference also endorsed the strategic direction of the Organization, through implementation of its Strategic Framework, and three regional initiatives: 1) empowering smallholders and family farms for improved rural livelihoods and poverty reduction, 2) improving agrifood trade and market integration, and the new 3) regional initiative on natural resources and climate change.
The FAO regional conference for Europe is the highest governing body for FAO's policy and priority areas of work in Europe and Central Asia for the next two years.
