Agriculture
In our Agricultural Science Policy events & webinar series we talk with experts about science underpinning important agricultural policy debates.
New Genomic Techniques: Get answers to your questions
Event Summary
As the EU institutions discuss a new framework to regulate the use of New Genomic Techniques in plant breeding, Dr. Thomas Jacobs from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology was invited to the EU Parliament to share his expertise in plant genome editing and to answer questions raised by EU stakeholders involved in the policy making.
December 6, 2023
Hands-free Hectares - What’s the Future of Farming?
Event Summary
Dr. Kit Franklin from Harper Adams University was invited to talk to Members of the European Parliament about the latest innovations in small scale automation for agricultural use. What are the latest trends in digital & precision agriculture and how could they add value for all types of farming from small holders to large scale?
June 6, 2023
Biological Control - The Farm to Fork solution?
Event Summary
Biological control is one of the hot topics in sustainable agriculture – but there is a lot of confusion about what it actually includes. So what exactly is it and can it be a solution within the Farm to Fork strategy? How does it differ from Integrated Pest Management? And what EU policy makers need to know to further promote Biological control in agriculture? Guido Sterk, managing Director of IPM, was at the EU Parliament to share his broad experience and expertise in the field.
April 28, 2023
What does Smart Farming really mean?
Webinar Summary
Smart farming promises many benefits including improved production and sustainability. But what does smart farming actually mean, and what could it really deliver? Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Liggesmeyer, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering and renowned digital technology expert, talked about state-of-the-art smart agriculture and how technologies such as data collection and analytics, machine learning, sensors, robots, and drones can help make farming more sustainable and which obstacles could lie ahead. A panel debate with Mr Jerome Bandry, Secretary General of CEMA and Ms Diana Lenzi, newly appointed President of the European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) followed.
July 20, 2021
Nitrogen in agriculture: finding the right balance
Webinar Summary
Prof. Claudia Wagner-Riddle, Professor at Guelph University’s School of Environmental Sciences talks about how farmers use nitrogen to produce more crops, while minimizing loss of nitrogen to the environment. This is followed by a panel debate with Dr. Jörg Hüther (Hessian Ministry for the Environment) and Dr. Thomas Gäbert (Farmer & Board Member of agt Trebbin eG). Best practices in nitrogen management are discussed from both farmer and national authority perspectives. MEP Alexander Bernhuber contributed to the webinar with a recorded video message.
June 16, 2021
Digital solutions for farm sustainability: How to AgBalance
Webinar Summary
Farmers need to take a steadily increasing number of decisions when planning their operations and each of these decisions can influence their farm’s sustainability performance. For example, how to ensure optimal land-use and fertilizer application, preserving biodiversity and reducing the carbon footprint, while optimizing yield? Irish MEP Colm Markey, Tom Bryan (Boortmalt), Joe Rushton (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform) and Kerstin Ulrich (BASF) will illustrate how digital tools such as AgBalance can help farmers combine environmental protection, farm productivity and societal acceptance.
March 19, 2021
How to know what to buy? Food sustainability labelling explained
Webinar Summary
There are more than 400 voluntary sustainability standards worldwide. Labels such as: “natural", "carbon neutral" or "sustainably sourced" and many more. But what do these sustainability labels actually mean?
To find out, watch this BASF Agricultural Science Policy Webinar with Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive at LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) a leading NGO which promotes sustainable farming.
MEP Franc Bogovič and MEP Álvaro Amaro contributed to the webinar with a recorded video message.
January 27, 2021
Making crops for the future: Innovative plant science explained
Webinar Summary
Conventional and innovative plant breeding, and genome editing: what does it all mean and how could these technologies contribute to achieving Farm-to-Fork objectives?
Dr. Nicola Patron, Group Leader at the Earlham Institute, explains what technologies are available and how they help develop innovative plant varieties to meet farmers' needs and overcome environmental challenges.
MEP Ulrike Müller, MEP Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez, and the young scientists of the GeneSprout Initiative also contributed to the webinar with recorded video messages.
December 7, 2020
How can agricultural sustainability be measured?
Webinar Summary
Which is more sustainable: an apple from Belgium or an organic apple from New Zealand, a Dutch greenhouse tomato or one grown in Spanish soil, coffee from organic plantations in Brazil or from traditional farms in Ethiopia?
If you want to learn more, watch this BASF Agricultural Science Policy Webinar with Prof. Dr. Markus Frank, Nürtingen-Geislingen University.
October 13, 2020
Are MRLs trading or safety standards?
Webinar Summary
We have all heard of MRLs but what exactly are they?
Publication of the European Commission’s Farm to Fork strategy set ambitious objectives, especially regarding risks associated with pesticides and their use. But have you ever wondered how such consumer risks are calculated and what do they really mean in practice?
If you want to learn more, watch this BASF Agricultural Science Policy Webinar with Dr. Caroline Harris, internationally respected expert and former regulator.
September 4, 2020
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