Ljubljana, 6. 3. 2023
Let
us recall that in September 2015, at the United Nations General Assembly,
countries around the world signed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
with the aim of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all
people live in peace and prosperity.
We
are only seven years away from 2030, but all the goals set out in the 2030
Agenda seem further away than they have ever been. The number of people that
suffer from hunger in 2021 is 46 million higher than in 2020. We are facing the
consequences of climate change, many animal species are becoming extinct, we
are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and we are watching the war in Ukraine
with concern. The world is currently in the worst food crisis since the Second
World War.
Over
the past period, it has become clear that food chains are far more vulnerable
than we thought. But the question remains, without a completely clear answer: how
can we overcome this challenge?
The
experts are clear: food supply chains will need to be restructured. They must
become more resilient to risks such as climate change.
Many
innovations are already emerging, and innovators say that the solution may lie
in creating digital support for food production, distribution and the
environment. Smart farms are being developed, service platforms are being
deployed, with accessible information, analysis and data collection forums
providing a wealth of insights and understandings.
However,
most of the above innovations are incomplete as they are not fully integrated
and provide limited services. Indeed, agriculture as a sector has made the
least progress in the digitalization era. This means that innovators have to
start at the beginning, with the collection of basic data.
Benefits
to be gained from digitalizing food production:
1.
Increased agricultural productivity and production with less labour, which
would positively impact food security and stabilization of food prices.
2.
Optimal use of resources, which would effectively tackle global warming and
achieve sustainable agriculture more quickly.
3.
Development of new distribution platforms that combine online and offline
distribution, thereby stimulating the growth of agri-food companies while
ensuring food safety through standardization.
4.
Extension of agriculture to biotechnology and microbial processing technologies
for the production of new medicines and energy sources.