The current food system presents a severe threat to global climate change. The food system includes all processes from growing to harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consuming, and disposing of food. Meeting the demand for more food will push the limits of the natural capital that supports food production (UNEP, 2014). Food production remains a significant contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, agriculture remains dependent on fossil sources of energy, and subsequently food prices remain high. A transformation of our food systems would positively benefit water, energy, and transportation systems.
Digital agriculture technologies can support a smooth and effective transition towards sustainability. Three stages of sustainability, namely efficiency, substitution, and re-design of food systems, can be achieved by adopting digital agriculture technologies.
In collaboration with the Seoul National University Global R&DB Center, the UN Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) is offering a 3-day capacity building program on ‘Digital Technology Applications in the Agriculture Sector.’ Thirty NDEs and officers from concerned Ministries of Agriculture worldwide have been invited to receive an introduction to digital technologies that aim to increase the overall sustainability of agriculture and the food system, and to participate in the co-design of the next CTCN technical assistance projects focused on increasing national capacities to address sector-specific aspects of the climate crisis. Through 2 days of in-person workshops and a 1-day field trip, this program seeks to:
- Share the latest technology, policy, and finance solutions to address challenges in the sector; and
- Exhibit the actual operation of one of the latest technologies. Distinguished technology experts, climate finance experts including Green Climate Fund and experienced policy designers in the agriculture sector will present the latest information for NDEs to consider in future CTCN technical assistance projects.