Reducing risk and improving sustainabilityThe role of ICT in agriculture and natural resources

Sjaak Wolfert

WCCA2014, 28 July 2014, San José Costa Rica

Sustainable Agriculture: how to make it work?

society

economy

ecology

VISIONtranslate

feedback

Monitoring and control

How can ICT provide a sustainability dashboard? (1)

Approach the whole agri-food supply chain as a single ecosystem with the following subsystems:

more efficient use of resources for production

● Smart Farming: individual treatment of animals, crops or m2 of land at the right place and right time through smart sensing & monitoring, smart planning and smart application using mobile (geographical) information systems

minimize waste and energy in logistics● include real-time tracking and tracing from farm to fork● remote monitoring of quality conditions through advanced sensor

technologies and wireless networks● early warning systems● flexible logistic planning & scheduling systems● dynamic simulation of sustainability impacts

How can ICT provide a sustainability dashboard? (2)

improve transparency and consumer awareness

● sustainability awareness raising (e.g. (food miles, ecological footprint, animal welfare, etc.) through consumer profiling and personalized product information by smartphone apps and social media

● sustainability awareness raising virtualization of the production process

● closer connection between producer and consumer

● educate consumers and consumer decision support pre/after sales

Requirements for designing a sustainability dashboard

Timely and flexible availability of sustainability information to a variable network of downstream and upstream partners

Seamless interoperability of enterprise and supply chain systems

Information security (privacy, authentication, integrity) and data quality

Affordable solutions which can be utilised by SMEs with limited resources and competences

A generic internet platform in the specific context of sustainable agri-food supply chains.

Thanks for your attention!