EASY4DIGIT team meets FAO Office for Innovation
On May 9th, the E4D consortium gathered at the CIA Agricoltori Italiani headquarters in Rome, hosted by Agricoltura è Vita. The following day, the consortium met with representatives from the FAO Office for Innovation at the Espace Gabon Room. This significant event marked a pivotal moment for the EASY4DIGIT initiative, focusing on advancing digital agriculture in Europe.
FAO’s commitment to digital agriculture
Dr. Henry van Burgsteden, together with Dr. Erik van Ingen and Nikola Trendov from the Digital Innovation in Agriculture Team, opened the session with a comprehensive presentation. They detailed the FAO’s structure, membership, and main areas of activity, highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals and the role of digital innovation within the Office of Innovation.
The presentation particularly focused on FAO’s contributions to the 2030 Agenda through digital agriculture. Key points included:
- Improving information accessibility.
- Enhancing market opportunities.
- Increasing productivity and resilience.
- Contributing to environmental benefits and poverty reduction.
In addition, the FAO team discussed critical thematic components of global digital public goods, such as:
- E-agriculture strategies.
- Policies and investments.
- Normative and impact assessments.
- Sustainable production and risk management.
They also outlined the FAO’s four strategic accelerators aimed at propelling digital agriculture forward.
Contributions from EASY4DIGIT
Dr. Massimo Canalicchio represented the EASY4DIGIT consortium, presenting its main goals, objectives, and expected results. He addressed the digital transition challenges faced by small and medium-sized farms, drawing on previous partnership projects.
All other participants underscored the importance of understanding, using, and managing digital technologies. This knowledge is crucial for the transition from Agriculture 4.0 to Agriculture 5.0, focusing on improving digital integration and sustainability.
A successful and inspiring meeting
The meeting was considered highly inspiring and useful by all participants from both the FAO-OIN and E4D teams. It laid the groundwork for future collaborative initiatives. The E4D group also enjoyed a guided tour and lunch hosted by the FAO-OIN at their rooftop restaurant, which encouraged further engagement and networking.
This event marks a significant milestone in the EASY4DIGIT journey towards a more digital and sustainable agricultural sector in Europe.
