3FOOD

Third Industrial Revolution Consulting Group
6.4 Provide in class, online, and in field training sessions to upgrade and enhance the skills
and competences of professional farmers to enable them to take advantage of intelligent
agriculture techniques and technologies. These include robotics, computer-based imaging,
GPS technology, drones, climate forecasting, technological solutions, environmental
controls and more. To make the best use of all these new and expanding technologies, it is
essential to provide a series of ongoing trainings for farmers and farm managers to sustain
productive, healthy farms.
7 Research, Development & Innovation
7.1 Increase the engagement of farmers and farm managers in applied research with
research institutes to field test practical intelligent agriculture tools and technologies.
Farmers are reluctant to change methods and adopt new technologies without clear
evidence of their cost-effective practicability and minimal risk. Sharing experimental results
and best practices can help identify challenges and opportunities and assist farmers in
learning about the myriad of new smart technologies that can increase aggregate
efficiencies and productivity while reducing marginal costs and ecological footprint.
7.2 Increase funding support for RDI applied research on organic farming methods that could
be seamlessly integrated into farm operations. Seek out funding opportunities from EU
initiatives that encompass how to detoxify soils, streams, and groundwater in making the
transition to organic farming.
7.3 Commission a University-led inventory mapping of the opportunities for increasing soil
and vegetation carbon levels of Luxembourg’s forests and farmlands. Inventory mapping
of carbon levels can provide a baseline for assessing both the current health and
productivity of the nation’s soils and vegetative landscape, as well as remaining
opportunities for further enhancing carbon storage. Part of the inventory exercise should
consider placement of soil smart sensor networks for gathering and monitoring data over
longer time frames.
7.4 Implement experiments on Luxembourg fields to determine local economic values and
benefits from the Ecosystem Services accruing as a result of a shift to organic farming
methods. Determine the increased benefits of ecosystem services such as biological
control of pests, as well as nitrogen mineralization, among others.
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