FAO: smart farming to help face climate change challenges
According to FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, innovative solutions are needed in agriculture to respond to climate change.
The Director-General was speaking at the 10th Annual Sustainable Innovation Forum at the COP25 climate summit in Madrid. He said global food systems have to greatly increase productivity and feed a growing population without jeopardising our natural resources and ecosystems.
“Innovative solutions to climate change challenges are more vital than ever – they are the key multiplier to transformation,” Qu said.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
He said Climate-Smart Agriculture , an initiative that FAO has championed since 2010, is helping to transform agricultural systems and meet the challenge presented by the current climate emergency.
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CSA seeks to increase agricultural productivity and incomes, build resilience and adapt to climate change, and where possible reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions.
Drones and advanced image data analytics
Qu said innovative solutions can help to optimise CSA for the world’s most vulnerable people. He said the use of drones and advanced image data analytics can enable the early identification of pests and diseases, while early warning systems offer information to farmers via their mobile phones that can advise them on when to plant or sell their livestock. “This reduces their risks and losses and boosts food and livelihood security,” Qu said.
Early warning and monitoring system
The Director-General said FAO had developed an early warning and monitoring system to control the spread of the crop-eating pest, Fall Armyworm and a sterile insect technique to eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly in the Dominican Republic.
