ICTs transforming agricultural science, research & technology generation Science Forum Workshop Theme 3 - Wageningen UR, 2009

1. ICT-enabled Agricultural Science for Development
Scenarios, Opportunities, Issues
– A focus on ICT for Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture –
by Simone Sala
ICTs transforming agricultural science, research & technology generation
Science Forum Workshop Theme 3

2. Scenarios
• Vertical limit – Models are likely to substantially
increase their precision in telling what changes will
happen, when and where
• Horizontal limit – Most of data already embeds
(hidden) time/space information: ICT will make it
explicit in the next 5 years, fostering data integration
• Depth limit – Higher granularity of ICTs will promote
communication networks to fill knowledge gaps
A focus on ICT for Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture

3. Opportunities
• Shift in data collection and information generation
through cheaper and simpler tools: from a cathedral
approach to a bazaar approach
• ICT can help dealing with uncertainty and
complexity by integrating large amounts of data
• Sustainable adaptation measures to changes can be
planned and implemented through platforms for
analysis and dialogue among different stakeholders
at different levels
A focus on ICT for Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture

4. Issues
• Interoperability among different applications is still far:
integrated platforms need to be developed
• ICT per se will never be enough to overcome
information glocal divide:
– A participatory R&D approach is crucial for successful ICT
applications at community level
– Peer-to-Peer communication systems are needed to
generate timely, reliable and clear information
• What about impact? Need for new indicators, reflecting
multi-disciplinary and system approach
A focus on ICT for Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture

5. More Information
• FAO – Climate Change:
www.fao.org/climatechange
FAO – Communication for Sustainable
Development Initiative : csdi@fao.org
• For further info: simone.sala@fao.org