Innovative approaches to food supply in times of climate change

Innovative approaches to food supply in times of climate change

A delegation led by agricultural councilor Michaela Langer-Weninger recently visited Rome to exchange ideas about the challenges and solutions in food supply under changed climate conditions. This trip included important expert discussions and visits to institutions such as the United Nations' Nutrition and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as at the World Food Program (WFP) and an innovative aquaponics company.

The stay in Rome was not only informative for the participants, but also pioneering for future strategies to ensure food supply. The visit to the FAO in particular was crucial, since experts, led by FAO General Director Qu Dongyu, presented various projects that deal with the fight against hunger and poverty. The FAO, founded in 1945, has the task of supporting countries in developing strategies that promote sustainable agriculture and protect the natural resources. "In Austria as well as in the entire EU, nutritional security is guaranteed thanks to high levels of self-sufficiency," said Langer-Weninger. In order to secure this autonomy in the future, it is important to strengthen domestic farms.

The role of the forests

The FAO emphasizes the importance of forests for nutritional security. These ecosystems offer much more than just wood; They are crucial for the protection of the environment. "An integrated approach that takes into account the different functions of the forests is necessary," emphasized Langer-Weninger. In Upper Austria in particular, around 70,000 people work along the Wald value chain, which underlines the economic relevance of this sector.

Interesting for the delegation was also the Mountain Partnership, a global alliance under FAO that works for the sustainable development of mountain regions. This initiative aims to improve the quality of life in these areas by supporting projects for combating poverty and promoting nutritional security.

hunger fighting in the focus of the WFP

The discussion about nutritional security was further deepened by the Director of Innovation of the World Food Program, Dominik Heinrich, who described the WFP as the largest humanitarian organization in the world. Their main task is to fight hunger and offer auxiliary measures in crisis areas. The organization is active in over 80 countries and provides millions of people who suffer from the effects of conflicts and natural disasters. This happens through food aid and by cash vouchers that help those affected to support local markets and to cover their basic needs.

The other goals of the WFP include the long -term improvement of the nutritional situation of people, which are particularly affected by food uncertainty. These initiatives are crucial to counteract the direct effects of hunger on the affected population groups.

technologies and the view from above

Another highlight of the trip was to visit the European Space Organization (ESA) in Frascati, where the delegation got an insight into satellite technology for environmental observation. With its Copernicus program, the world's largest straw observation program, ESA offers valuable data for analyzing climate change and all environmental changes. This information not only supports researchers, but are also crucial for political decisions in the field of environmental and climate protection.

The discussions with the satellite experts illustrate the role that modern technology plays in the pursuit of sustainability goals. In particular, the use of satellite data can help support clear and well -founded decisions in agriculture and beyond.

innovative agriculture

A particularly fascinating example of modern agriculture was the Aquaponik system "The Circle Food & Energy Solutions" in Rome. The delegation learned how this sustainable method of food production works, combined fish farming and plant cultivation. In a closed system, the fishing waste is used as nutrients for the plants while the plants clean the water. This environmentally friendly technology needs little space and water and could be an answer to the challenges of urban agriculture.

Such innovations open up economic opportunities and can help promote environmentally friendly practices. The delegation from Upper Austria has gained valuable impressions of the connection between technology, environmental awareness and food production by this visit.

For further information on this important delegation trip and the projects presented, .