Namibian agricultural journalist Deon Schlechter is participating in an information tour to Germany on the topic of ‘The Future of Agriculture’ in connection with the AGRITECHNICA trade fair in Hannover.

This information visit takes place from 5 to 12 November 2019 in Hannover and Berlin and is part of the Visitors Programme of the Federal Republic of Germany. Chargée d’Affaires of the German Embassy, Ellen Gölz, officially handed over the letter of invitation on Thursday, 31 October 2019.

Together with other agricultural journalists, Ministry staff and agricultural experts and associations dealing with global food supply, the participants, who arrived from various parts of the world, will hold talks with political actors such as the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as with representatives of agricultural associations and civil society organisations.

Topics to be discussed are the opportunities and risks inherent in innovative agriculture, e.g. securing the global food supply through modern technology, through sustainable management methods to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as well as the potential of increased use of organic farming and ecological restoration as well as ensuring that small farms have access to agricultural innovations. Visits to family-run farms and to a machinery ring as well as to the AGRITECHNICA trade fair in Hannover, the world’s leading trade fair for the global agricultural technology industry and forum for future issues in plant production, will be some of the highlights on this programme.

Mrs. Gölz wished Mr. Schlechter a successful trip and expressed her hope that he will gain valuable information and insights may be useful in his reporting, especially on topics such as climate change and ways to tackle Namibia’s current drought.