The Minister for Agriculture, Didzis Šmits, will attend the informal meeting of the Council of Ministers for Agriculture of the European Union (EU) in Cordoba (Spain) from 3 to 5 September, where the topic of the talks is “New technologies for more sustainable and endurable agriculture.”
Ministers will discuss the best initiatives to promote technological development in agriculture and food production in the European Union. It is planned to discuss the role of innovation, new technologies and digitisation in the transformation of food systems, including the introduction of innovations in plant breeding. The aim of the discussions is to find ways to provide food to all the world's inhabitants while facilitating adaptation to climate change.
“Smart technologies make the work of farmers and entrepreneurs more efficient and productive, and the whole sector more environmentally friendly. It is therefore necessary, particularly in the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises, to develop and promote the use of up-to-date technologies and techniques in production of agricultural products and food. This is the way to ensure food for the growing global population, as well as protection and health of people, animals and the environment, while maintaining competitiveness of European Union farmers,” says Minister for Agriculture Didzis Šmits.
Ministers for Agriculture from EU Member States will share their vision of the future – the most appropriate and effective – action on the changes common for all the EU Member States in the agri-food industry. Ministers will also discuss how EU science and technology companies could ensure return on research using innovative methods.