EU member states must adapt their laws and offer better incentives to small farmers and growers to capitalise on new agri technologies, according to new proposals.
Technology in agriculture can help increase production, improve distribution and help tackle food waste, but these benefits should be available to all, said the UK’s MEP Anthea McIntyre.
'Europe should be a world leader in agricultural technology. We need all to work together – the EU and the Member States, academia, the industry, breeders, agro-chemical sector, to make sure that we have the best research and that we translate it into practice,' she added.
Dutch MEP Jan Huitema added: 'We have to open road to innovation in agricultural sector. We have some huge chances and opportunities that farmers would like to take advantage of. This can create a better food and a better environment and more diversity.
'The sector is in a position where it can feed the world and preserve the nature. We should make sure that there are no impediments to farmers in terms of using new technology.”
Proposals put forward by MEPs included:
- Encourage more extensive use of ICT
- Stimulate the uptake of precision farming
- Introduce innovative solutions for capturing emissions and better energy efficiency
- Update old frameworks to encourage new ways of processing food waste
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