11.03.2024
The German Research Foundation (DFG) has announced the establishment of the Permanent Senate Commission on the Transformation of Agricultural and Food Systems. Prof. Frank Ewert, Scientific Director of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), has been appointed as a member of the committee. The Senate Commission has the task of evaluating new scientific findings for their social and political significance and making recommendations for action.
Agriculture and food security are facing several challenges, such as biodiversity loss, climate change and population growth. The DFG set up the Senate Commission to support society and politics with scientifically sound knowledge to understand these developments and strengthen food systems for the future.
As Scientific Director of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and Professor of Crop Production at the University of Bonn, Prof. Frank Ewert brings extensive experience in the fields of crop science, production ecology, systems analysis and, in particular, plant growth modeling to the committee. His work focuses on sustainability assessments and impact assessments on the influence of climate change on crop production systems, food security and resource conservation.
The 18 members of the newly founded Senate Commission will look at the topic from various scientific disciplines such as agricultural, social, natural and life sciences. Their main task is to examine basic scientific findings for their social and political significance and to provide interdisciplinary advice. In particular, the committee members will evaluate controversial topics, newly developing issues and the potential and risk of technical innovations. In order to do justice to the complexity of the topic, the Senate Commission will consider the entire value chain of food systems, from soil and climate to cultivation and processing through to the eating habits of consumers.
The commission will publish the results of its deliberations in the form of position papers. In addition, the members will represent the DFG in relevant discussions and hearings.
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