Agriculture is one of the main pillars of the European Union and contrary to common beliefs it is highly technological. The digital revolution is therefore also disrupting the agriculture sector. It enables farmers to be more precise, efficient and helps them to improve productivity and sustainability while remaining competitive. The benefits of this new approach to farming apply to all farmers, regardless of their size.

Embracing new technologies can at times be difficult for farmers who wish to take advantage of digitalization. Expensive machinery, the absence of infrastructure and lack of knowledge – those are some the challenges the Agriculture sector has to overcome today. As the debate on the Common Agricultural Policy 2020 kicks off, what is the vision for digital farming in Europe?

This POLITICO event will convene European policymakers, farmers, digital technology providers and start-ups to discuss how to grasp opportunities offered by smart farming while giving the appropriate tools and solutions to farmers to ensure sustainable and competitive Agriculture.

Key questions will be addressed to enable farmers to unlock the full potential of Agriculture 4.0:

• What should digitalization bring to maintain a sustainable and competitive Agriculture?
• What is the appropriate regulatory framework to encourage the take-up of new technologies: the Common Agricultural Policy, Horizon 2020, the Digital Single Market Strategy or a new overarching one?
• How can traditional farming be combined with technologies? What role is left for farmers in precision agriculture?
• What solutions are needed to feed and improve farmers’ knowledge on new technologies?
• What should be done and by whom to overcome the lack of broadband in remote areas?
• What are the funding requirements and investments needed?