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Training and workshops

Use of innovative technologies for agricultural early warning systems

FAO-JRC webinar in the context of the EU-FAO strategic dialogue following up on the theme of “Food systems transformation through Digitalisation”.  

The event stimulated discussion on how early warning systems can be further improved while at the same time responding to the increased information needs driven by the ongoing complex crises.

  • food safety | food security
  • -
  • Online only

Programme

  1. 5 Jul 2022,
    01:00 PM - 01:05 PM CEST
    Opening

    Raschad Al Khafaji, Director of FAO LOB

  2. 01:05 PM - 01:20 PM CEST
    Short introductions

    Maximo Torero, FAO - Chief Economist and
    Alan Belward, JRC - Director Sustainable Resources

  3. 01:20 PM - 01:35 PM CEST
    Innovative technologies in FAO early warning systems

    Zhongxin Chen, FAO Senior Information Technology Officer and Coordinator of the Hand-In-Hand Geospatial platform

    Karl Morteo, FAO Information Technology Officer

  4. 01:35 PM - 01:50 PM CEST
    Innovative technologies in JRC early warning systems

    Felix Rembold, JRC - Food Security team lead

  5. 01:50 PM - 02:00 PM CEST
    Feedback and reflections by GIEWS

    Mario Zappacosta, FAO – Head of GIEWS

  6. 02:00 PM - 02:10 PM CEST
    Feedback and reflections by GEOGLAM

    Inbal Becker-Reshef, NASA Harvest - Programme Director

  7. 02:10 PM - 02:20 PM CEST
    Feedback and reflections by IPC

    Leila Oliveira, Team Leader of IPC Technical Development, FAO

  8. 02:20 PM - 02:35 PM CEST
    Q&A session

    Moderator: Myrto Arvaniti, FAO LOB - Marketing and Communication

  9. 02:35 PM - 02:45 PM CEST
    Wrap up and closing remarks

    Willem Olthof, DG INTPA – Deputy Head of Unit Sustainable Agri-Food systems and Fisheries

Practical information

When
-
Where
Online only
Who should attend
agricultural and food security analysts, academia, civil society
Languages
English
Website
EU-FAO strategic dialogue

Report

ASAP warning explorer
ASAP - Anomaly hotsspots of agricultural production
European Union, 2022

Several speakers stressed the importance of increasing the quality and timeliness of information as well as of improving their predictive capacity. More information is needed in specific areas, including (for example) about pests and diseases.

Finally there was agreement among the panellists that expert knowledge and ground truthing remain fundamental to ensure that innovative sensors and algorithms are properly calibrated and validated.

Knowledge management and communication of scientific evidence also needs more attention.

Opportunities for the FAO and the JRC to work in this direction are, for example, the ongoing development of the IPC digital analysis platform as well as the close collaboration within technical working groups such as the one related to the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on global food security or the one led by GEOGLAM about essential agricultural variables.

This Brussels Briefing organized jointly by the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) discussed the potential of digitalization to improve efficiencies in the agrifood sector and to reduce its environmen
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations