The U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture, initiated by the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with implementing partner, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, aims to promote transatlantic dialogue on common challenges for the field of agriculture and rural regions and pave the way for a more sustainable agricultural future. Agriculture is of critical importance for the economy, society, the environment and for the future. The sector plays a major role, both in protecting natural resources and mitigating climate change as well as promoting the development of rural regions and social and political cohesion. As major importers and exporters of agricultural products, both Germany and the United States are central to shaping a sustainable agricultural future. However, longstanding conflicts, misunderstandings, and stereotyping in the field of agriculture prevent the U.S. and Germany from assuming a joint global leadership role under the umbrella of the transatlantic partnership, when they should be natural partners given many shared challenges and their time-honored relationship.
By bringing together German and U.S. farmers and key agricultural stakeholders from academia, research and business from agriculturally relevant regions on both sides of the Atlantic, the forum addresses precisely these challenges and invests in transatlantic exchange in rural communities. The two-year project (2022-2024) consists of two cohorts of 16 participants each, who will come together for virtual and in-person exchange. In addition to addressing the social, economic and political relevance of agriculture for rural areas, each program year will focus on a core theme. The first cohort, which will focus on climate, will engage participants in eastern Germany and the U.S.’ Corn Belt and will meet in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. The second cohort, which will focus on digitalization as the core topic, will host participants from northwestern Germany and the Northeastern U.S. in Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein.
Through an exchange of experience, the opportunity to visit best practices on site, and the formation of new transatlantic networks, this project will promote innovative solutions for a sustainable rural and agricultural future and strengthen transatlantic relations overall.
The project is supported by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany, funded by the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).
