Agriculture at its limits: Between climate change and pest pressure

Agriculture is under pressure: while extreme weather events are becoming more frequent even in supposedly temperate latitudes as a result of climate change, invasive or increasingly common pests such as the reed glass-winged cicada are threatening harvests. Südzucker AG (Südzucker) and the Industrieverband Agrar e. V. (IVA) today held a joint farm day at the Kirschgartshausen experimental farm to show what this means for farmers, what solutions are being worked on and what politicians need to do now.

At its experimental farm, Südzucker focuses on current topics relating to the future of agriculture. These include new methods of weed control such as robotics and spot spraying, as well as the promotion of biodiversity through integrated flower strips. Practical trials provide results that serve  as a basis for professional exchange with farmers. This takes place as part of guided tours of the trials and on-site training sessions. "The current focus is on research into ways of controlling the reed glass-winged cicada. The bacterial diseases transmitted by the cicada lead to very heavy yield losses in sugar beet. The diseases are now also affecting other crops such as potatoes and carrots," explains Dr Georg Vierling, Head of Sugar Beet Cultivation and New Plants at Südzucker. “In the face of climate change and new diseases and pests, sustainable, regional agriculture for food supply will only work if farmers can use a toolbox of options available to them. These include plant protection, breeding and improved cultivation methods,” Vierling continues.

Domestic arable farming faces a double challenge from climate change: On the one hand, it must adapt to new challenges such as extreme weather and pest pressure, and on the other hand, agriculture must also make its contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in production. Dr Theresa Krato, Head of Plant Nutrition and Biostimulants at the IVA, explained how this can be achieved: "If we use technological solutions consistently, emissions from arable farming can be reduced by up to 40 per cent. Green nitrogen fertilizers can make the biggest contribution to this in the future if we continue to focus consistently on renewable energies and the development of a hydrogen infrastructure."

However, solutions that are already available for a long time also offer reduction potential, such as nitrogen stabilizers or digital tools such as optical N-sensors. ”Although the production of nitrogen fertilizers with green hydrogen is still considerably more expensive than with natural gas,“ says Krato, “if we look at the CO₂ avoidance costs, they are significantly cheaper than previously subsidised climate protection measures such as the energy-efficient refurbishment of buildings or electric cars.”


Joint press release with the Industrieverband Agrar e. V. (IVA)

Press contact IVA:
Industrieverband Agrar e. V. (IVA)
Martin May
Managing Director, Head of Communications and Advocacy
Phone +49 69 2556-1249
Mobile +49 151 54417692
E-mail: [email protected]