Seminar - Transition towards sustainable farming

Session Chairs: Lukas Luggin & Cinzia Mannozzi 

This seminar is part of the series  'Sustainable Food Systems: Connecting Expertise in Academia and Industry'  organized by the  EFFoST Working Group on Sustainable Food Systems and  Young EFFoST held on 30 July 2021. The seminar series aims to provide detailed insights into various facets of sustainability in the food sector. 

In order to implement the 17 UN sustainable development goals, the food industry must act now, by lowering its environmental impact. Our sector needs to go beyond greenwashing and purely marketing-based approaches, to show consumers and other stakeholders that we are committed to change.

Talk 1 - How can the farm to fork strategy lead to a more sustainable food production?
MEP Herbert Dorfmann, European Union, Italy
The new farm to fork strategy has led to many changes towards more sustainable farming. In this talk, Herbert Dorfmann will explain how the current regulation and the green deal from the European Union will help to produce raw materials in a more sustainable way.
For more information please contact Herbert Dorfmann.

Talk 2 - Pathways to reduce the environmental impacts of food production
Thomas Nemecek, Agroscope, Switzerland
The focus of this talk will be on the most effective strategies and the environmental impacts of land use with regard to GHG emissions, biodiversity, and water use. Also, the huge variability of these environmental impacts will be discussed. Moreover, he will address plans to increase the eco-efficiency of agricultural production and provide an overview of which production systems perform the best (organic or conventional, intensive or extensive).
Access the presentation slides and for more information please contact Thomas Nemecek.

Talk 3 - Sustainable animal farming practice
Laura Boyle, Teagasc, Ireland
Societal concerns about the welfare of animals in food production systems is increasing. Nowhere is this reflected more pertinently than in the recent European Citizens' Initiative "End the Cage Age" which has prompted a commitment from the European Commission to bring forward legislation to ban cages for specific farmed animal species. However, societal concern is not the only reason why animal welfare is an important component of the sustainability of food animal production systems. Laura Boyle will introduce a number of ways of how animal welfare contributes to sustainability. She will also demonstrate why the concept of ‘One Welfare’ is the best framework through which to ensure the sustainability of our farming systems.
Access the presentation slides and for more information please contact Laura Boyle.

Talk 4 - Vertical farming: a shift to a more sustainable farm system?
Anders Riemann, Nordic Harvest, Denmark
Nordic Harvest is operating the biggest vertical farming structure in Europe. In the talk, Nordic Harvest will share some insights of the biggest vertical farm in Europe. In addition, the company will show the advantages of vertical farming and how it can lead to a more sustainable farm system. They will help to answer the question if vertical farming is an alternative and where it could replace traditional farming techniques.
For more information please contact Anders Riemann or visit the Nordic Harvest website.

After the presentations, the speakers were available for a panel discussion involving the audience.

For more information about this webinar, please contact the session chairs Lukas Luggin and Cinzia Mannozzi

 

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