GeoTech and global food: Complex, cascading systems

As a committed “learn, do, adapt” tank, the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center believes the Global Food System can be made more shock-resistant and scale to ensuring that everyone on the planet is fed. Data and technologies can reduce disruptions to food production, distribution, and assurance activities locally and globally. These activities are consistent with the Center’s focused mission: Championing positive paths forward that nations, economies, and societies can pursue to ensure new technologies and data empower people, prosperity, and peace.

Though some nations and regions have been faster to respond than others, there still is a looming global food crisis and a challenge of logistics and distribution. There is also a concern that some more authoritarian or unstable regions of the world may intentionally deprive groups of food, which is not moral or right. Technology and data can make sure the food that is available to people who need it—as well as work to address food currently being destroyed because it cannot get to market instead reaches those who need it. We must work together to avoid the destabilizing effects that regional famines could bring to the world.

Past events & articles

Online Event Tue, November 17, 2020 • 1:00 pm ET

AgriTechAction 2020

AgriTechAction centers on the intersection of data, technology and the global food system. During a series of public and private events, we focus on how a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches to data and tech can ensure everyone on the planet has access to nutritious food that is produced in a sustainable way. FellowsAction CouncilBack to GeoTech homepage

Energy & Environment Inclusive Growth Resilience Technology & Innovation

Food system sustainability in 2021 and beyond

A live discussion focused on creating a strategy for technology and data applications to agriculture and food systems challenges in 2021 and beyond. This event will continue the series of conversations centered on food insecurity as millions of Americans continue to go hungry and famine strikes many areas across the world.

Identifying and fixing disruptions to the global food system

A live public panel discussion about addressing the policy and technical challenges to successfully managing agricultural data at all scales, especially in light of the pandemic. The focus of the panelists will center on data and technological solutions to the challenges facing the food industry.

Actionable steps in turbulent times: Rebuilding more resilient local and global communities

We must mobilize a coalition skilled in understanding how new technologies transform how nations and industry sectors can collaborate on important issues — to include more rapidly responding to future waves of COVID-19 and future pandemics, strengthening the Global Food System, and demonstrating Data Trusts for Good to strengthen international supply chains. We must do this to lessen the likelihood of future major disruptions to societies and economies.

GeoTech Cues Jun 11, 2021

Can AgriTech entrepreneurs save the Middle East’s food supply?

By Hezha Barzani and Matthew Goodman

On June 9, the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center and empowerME Initiative hosted a private, on-the-record roundtable. Read the key takeaways.

Energy & Environment Energy Transitions

GeoTech Cues Apr 21, 2020

Earth Day 2020 call for action: Mitigating the global food crises associated with COVID-19

By Sara-Jayne Terp, Sahil Shah (Guest Author), and Molly Jahn (Guest Author)

At the beginning of April, the Atlantic Council GeoTech Center published an data-driven analysis examining “Global food security during COVID-19”. This follow-up report dives into three specific food security concerns informed by that data and presents three solutions that world leaders can implement now to get ahead of the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global food supply.

Civil Society Coronavirus

GeoTech Cues Mar 30, 2020

Getting ahead of the crisis: Global food security during COVID-19

By Sara-Jayne Terp

Much has been written about the economic consequences of lockdown policies; less attention, however, has been paid to emerging issues like food security in the age of a global pandemic. A topic that is certainly a crucial issue because COVID-19 is also a crisis of logistics – whether it is with regard to necessary medical equipment, labor availability, or food supplies.

Civil Society Coronavirus

Experts

Kijani AI – an applied agritech activity

Kijani (“green” in Kiswahili) AI represents a collaboration with Kenya-based farmers enlisting data and AI techniques to address major challenges in the global food system, ranging from climate disruption and unsustainable farming practices to pandemics and inefficient supply chains. With support from the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center, this initiative helps farmers and suppliers in food insecure regions feed more people, quickly.

Former fellow

Daniella Taveau

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Former fellow

Molly Jahn

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Fellow

Sara-Jayne Terp

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Resilience & Society Technology & Innovation

Former fellow

Charles Jennings

Action Council Member

GeoTech Center

China Defense Technologies

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Transcript Jun 23, 2021

Brian Deese on Biden’s vision for ‘a twenty-first-century American industrial strategy’

By Atlantic Council

National Economic Council Director Brian Deese spoke about how the Biden administration can strengthen US economic recovery by working with the private sector and global allies.

Economy & Business Future of Work

GeoTech Cues Aug 10, 2021

Contextualizing COVID-19 and its implications for the future of work

By Matthew Gavieta

As workers around the world adapted to a new normal amid a public health crisis, remote work took on a new meaning. However, questions about how to structure long-term telework arrangements remain. The current landscape of data reveals a tenuous relationship between well-being and telework. To secure a brighter future for our labor force, we must continue developing worker-centered technology policy and doing research on how to improve life at work.

Digital Policy Future of Work

Blog Post Jul 27, 2021

The time for US immigration reform is now

By Jeff Goldstein

The US is currently grappling with a multi-decade long trend of declining population rates leading to fewer and fewer workers. To meet the challenges of the future, US policymakers must manage declining population growth – and one of the best arrows in their economic policy quiver is comprehensive immigration reform.

Future of Work Macroeconomics