February 25, 2010
The Berlin International Green Week (IGW) from 15 to 24 January 2010 is a source of inspiration to the entire agricultural industry. The IGW offered a central platform for discussions on issues related to agrarian policy, drawing 50 ministers of agriculture and 200 top experts and industry representatives from all over the world. This year’s main topic was “Agriculture and Climate Change – New Conceptproposals from Policymakers and Industry“.
Agriculture and forestry are strongly affected by climatic change, and will need to adapt to changing conditions. On the other hand, agriculture is also responsible to greenhouse gases. An active climate policy is therefore an important element of agrarian policy. This was the joint opinion of the 50 agriculture ministers, who had accepted the invitation of Federal Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner, to lay the ground for a new international climate protection initiative. The new initiative’s objective is to adapt international agriculture more stringent climate protection standards and to secure sufficient productivity to feed the world’s growing population.
Dr. Gibfried Schenk, Managing Director FNL, and K+S- board member Joachim Felker, in an exchange of ideas. (Photograph: FNL)
To K+S, the IGW offered an opportunity to intensify contacts with partners and to present the company’s efforts for sustainable, climate-friendly agriculture. Among other highlights, K+S board member Joachim Felker used a discussion with Gerd Sonnleitner, the President of the German Farmers’ Association (Deutscher Bauernverband) to draw attention to K+S’ continuous contributions to meeting the challenges created by climate changes and by securing the world food supply.
An example of current challenges was provided by Dr. Ernst Andres, Senior Executive of K+S KALI GmbH: “Against the background of climate change, the increasing scarcity of water may turn out to be the biggest problem agriculture needs to face. The amelioration of yields on salty soils and an increased efficiency of water usage in agrarian production are two topical challenges, which in view of the food supply to a growing world population require our special attention. At K+S, we are currently researching these problems and possible solutions, - sometimes in cooperation with external partners”.
Dr. Ernst Andres (left), Senior Executive of K+S KALI GmbH, explained at the first FNL-event at the Berlin Educational Farm (Erlebnisbauernhof) during the International Green Week. (Photograph: FNL)
