Winter School “EU law on Digital Agriculture" - 2021
The interdisciplinary winter school “EU law on Digital Agriculture”, for a total amount of 40 hours of training, was organized by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies.
The Winter School provided participants with an advanced understanding of the European legal and policy framework of digital agriculture, within an interdisciplinary learning context. The law and policy framework for digital agriculture and the technical and economic aspects for implementation of smart agriculture will be explored during the Winter School. The European farming and food system has to deal with a complex set of global and regional challenges, from climate change and environmental degradation to inequality in the supply chain. These issues require profound transformations in the way we produce, market and sell agricultural products. Digital innovation and key enabling technologies will be crucial to support the transformation of agri-food systems. The Winter School will discuss the connections between innovation, sustainability and climate change policy. E-innovation and ICT for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture will be addressed from an interdisciplinary perspective, including law, economics, computer sciences and agricultural engineering.
TARGET GROUP
Undergraduates, post-graduate and PhD students (in Law, Politics, International Studies, Agricultural Sciences, Computer Science, amongst other fields) as well as professionals (such as lawyers, international/regional organisation officers; public servants working on agricultural and rural development, agricultural engineers), who are looking for cross-disciplinary learning opportunities would find the course most suitable.
COURSE AIM
The participants acquire a wide understanding of the EU regulatory technology framework for building a healthier, fairer and more sustainable and climate-resilient agri-food system. By the end of winter school, participants are able to:
- handle the policy framework on digital agriculture and smart farming in the EU;
- be aware of the European rules on using and sharing agricultural data;
- managing the principles of e-business and its practice in the agricultural sector;
- understand the challenges in establishing a digital traceability of agri-food practices
The Winter School consists of lectures, seminars, discussions, role playing, and simulation games. Case studies sessions and Q&A sessions are planned in order to stimulate the exchanges between trainers and trainees, promoting the creation of a network among all the participants within an interdisciplinary environment. The case studies sessions hosts guests from the EU Institutions and from the agri-food industry.
MAIN TOPICS
Framing Digital Agriculture in Europe: An overview of the legal and policy framework for digital agriculture at international and EU level will be provided. The conceptual paradigm of smart agriculture in the EU will be explored through an analysis of the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Challenges and opportunities of the agri-food sector ‘going digital’ will be discussed.
Using and Sharing Agricultural Data: The analysis of the rules on using and sharing non-personal agricultural data in the EU will be carried out. The rights regarding such data, the related markets, their legitimate use and the protection of farmers’ interests will be explored.
E-innovation for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture: Key strengths in improving sustainability and meeting environmental challenges will be explored. Case-study analysis, best practices and promising solutions will be presented through a multidisciplinary exchange of knowledge on the application of electronic and mobile innovations towards the sustainable development of the agri-food value chain.
ICT application framework for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture: The role of key enabling technologies will be addressed in achieving food security and inclusive rural development in a context of climate variability, and the willingness to meet the SDGs.
Tracking Sustainability in Agriculture: The implementation of different instances will be analysed that allow real digital traceability of agricultural practices and transmitting data in real-time and easily among the actors involved in the agri-food system.