The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN have welcomed a strategic plan for digital agriculture, amid reports of a thriving digital farming market.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has published a statement welcoming the sharing of China’s digital agriculture plan on its e-agriculture platform.
This contribution comes on the heels of the latest Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), where agriculture ministers of 71 nations welcomed the advancement in creating an International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture.
China’s Development Plan for Digital Agriculture and Rural Areas (2019-2025) has been made available on FAO’s e-agriculture website, in English and Chinese.
The International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture that is being created would provide strategic policy recommendations on the use of digitalisation in food and agriculture, share best practices, and promote international cooperation by exchanging ideas and experiences across borders.
“Digitalisation has become an important driving force for rural transformation”
Requested by agriculture ministers at GFFA 2019, the concept note for establishment of the Council was prepared by FAO and partner international organisations and will be presented to FAO’s governing bodies for endorsement later this year. The Digital Council would help forge consensus on norms and ultimately lower costs, boost efficiency and contribute to narrowing the world’s digital divides.
“Digitalisation has become an important driving force for rural transformation, creating new opportunities for farmers,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
Dongyu continued: “I thank China for making available through FAO its national plan, sharing with others its experiences and good practices. I hope there will other countries joining in, to help promote dialogue and digital agriculture across the world.”
Digital technologies offer unique opportunities in helping the global agri-food system face the challenge of providing enough, quality and nutritious food to feed an ever-growing population.
Helping to increase agricultural production and productivity while promoting efficient use of resources, digitalisation can also boost livelihoods and improve the living conditions of people, particularly farmers, in rural areas.
