The Italian Embassy in London has recently hosted a conference on innovation in the agri-food sector entitled “Cultivating innovation: the future of agriculture in Italy and the UK”. The event was opened by Deputy Head of Mission Riccardo Smimmo and organised by Ms. Gabriella Manfredi in collaboration with the Department for Business and Trade and the British Embassy in Rome. It brought together Italian and British experts: Carlo Bisaglia from the Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economy Analysis (CREA), Duncan Ross from the UK Agri-Tech Centre and Alessio Bolognesi from the Italian Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Federation (FEDERUNACOMA). The debate was moderated by Roberta Re from the UK Department for Business and Trade.
In an attempt to reach the target of a 70% increase in food production by 2050, as the world population grows to over 9 billion, technological development plays a key role. Farmers will therefore have to face the parallel challenges of feeding a growing population and protecting the environment – climate change, population growth and the limits of natural resources require creative solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and resilience.
Topics covered include “smart” agriculture, data analysis and condition monitoring, public and private investments, precision agriculture, automation and robotics, AI and machine learning, the optimisation of supply chains, vertical and indoor agriculture, drones and earth observation technologies, biotechnology, water management technology, genetics in livestock production, and veterinary science.
At the end of the conference, a delegation of Italian and British experts representing institutions, companies and research centres paid a visit to the Agri-EPI Innovation Centre and Harpers Adams University.
