Brussels, 13/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 11 January, members of the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee discussed different ways for promoting innovation in farming, by examining the draft own initiative report of Jan Huitema (ALDE, Netherlands) on this theme.
The rapporteur, Huitema, pointed out that innovation was needed for meeting new challenges in agriculture. He also said that agricultural practices were constantly changing and the legislator should take into account the opinions of researchers and farmers to develop innovation.
Accuracy and mega data in farming
He called for progress to be monitored in the areas of smart farming, as well as the follow-up of data in real time (sensor technology), GPS technologies (assisted guidance systems only account for 10%, less than 1% of cinematic positioning technologies in real time and less than 1% of the variable speed application techniques used, according to Huitema's draft report), as well as the use of drones in agriculture. The rapporteur said that “unfortunately, innovation is not developed enough and we need to overcome the obstacles” facing it.
The rapporteur mentioned the initiatives currently being developed and that should be encouraged: for example, guided machines that help extremely precise work (within centimetres of accuracy) on arable land (which has led to a significant cut in the use of plant protection products and water and fertiliser consumption, whilst tackling soil erosion); innovative solutions involving animal rearing systems that are likely to help improve animal welfare, by reducing the need to use veterinary medicines, including antimicrobials.
The aim of all this is to create new jobs, help tackle climate change more effectively (including a cut in greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector) and better manage plant health.
The draft report also supports the production of animal proteins through insect development or replacing artificial fertilisers with those from animal waste (which is not currently possible).
At a major event organized by Politico in Brussels on Monday, Copa and Cogeca underlined the importance of innovation in the EU agriculture sector to remain competitive and sustainable and help meet growing world food demand using limited resources. Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen regretted that plant protection products are being phased out without alternative solutions and explained that, “This was the case with the neonicotinoid seed treatment ban, which resulted in a big drop in EU rapeseed production this year”. He also said “We need legal certainty to encourage innovation and to develop new products and bring them to the market”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)