Klaus Josef Lutz, CEO of BayWa AG, is appealing to the German federal government to tackle the urgently needed digital infrastructure in with full force. On the occasion of the Global Conference on Food and Agriculture (GFFA), which begins tomorrow in Berlin, titled "Digital Agriculture - Intelligent Solutions for the Agriculture of the Future", he warns: "Our farmers are in danger of losing their competitiveness when outside In Germany digital 
infrastructures have made considerably more progress than in Germany itself." Lutz demands that political promises be finally adhered to, so that Germany can catch up with other countries.
More efficient, resource and environmentally friendly agriculture
A lacking digital infrastructure is one of the most common barriers to investment in digital technologies and solutions among German farmers. "Today, no farm can do without IT. However, in order to be able to fully exploit the potential of digitization for more efficient, resource- and environmentally friendly agriculture, nationwide Internet remains a basic prerequisite - especially where it is necessary for machines to communicate with other machines," says Lutz.
"What use are the best digital solutions to our farmers if they can not use them due to lack of network coverage? Incidentally, without consistent digitalisation, it will become increasingly difficult to ensure global food security." Irrespective of the need for agriculture, fast Internet basically strengthens rural areas. Lutz: "Only this way can more companies settle in the countryside and relieve intensive urbanisation."
Civil use of satellite data
As a positive example of effective framework conditions of state institutions for the middle-class economy, Lutz named the Earth Observation Program Copernicus from the European Union. "Innovations do not necessarily have to come from Silicon Valley. Today, Europe is a world leader in the civilian use of satellite data - thanks to companies like Vista GmbH in Munich." Since the 1990s, this company has been preparing satellite data for civilian use, including agricultural use. In addition to private companies, international institutions such as the European Space Agency, the German Aerospace Center and the World Bank are among Vista's customers. Since 2017, the majority of the company has belonged to BayWa AG.
For more information: www.baywa.com