16 - 17 May 2019. Bonn, Germany. Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). “Shaping the nutritional environment to promote a balanced diet ("Food environments for improved nutrition".

1. www.bmel.de
The International Research
Portfolio of the Federal Ministry
of Food and Agriculture
Silvia Dietz, Head of Division 121
„Research & Innovation, Coordination of research“
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)

2. Federal Government Expenditure Targets 2018 for
Research and Development by Department
21.05.2019 Folie 2
Among “Other
Departments”
the largest R&D
expenditure will be
provided by the
Federal Ministry of
Food and Agriculture
-> target investment
of 685 million €.
-> 6,5 million € for
international research
(without EU)

3. 21.05.2019 Slide 3
Healthy Life
- Health, good
nutrition and safe
products -
BMEL Research Policy:
Four Research Clusters
Global Responsibility
- Ensuring global food security
and responsible resource
management -
Sustainable
Agriculture
- Responsible and
resource conserving soil
management and animal
husbandry -
Future of Rural
Areas
- High quality of life,
strong economic sectors
and efficient fostering -

4. 21.05.2019 Slide 4
BMEL Mandate and Core Competence in
Food, Nutrition and Agricultural Policy
 Expertise and experience in the spectrum of agriculture (incl.
fisheries), rural development, food and nutrition
 Long-term collaboration with FAO (incl. CFS)
 Involvement in international & multilateral research
initiatives within various platforms and fora (e.g. OECD, GRA
(Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases), TempAg (network
for sustainable agriculture in temperate zones), G7/G20 -> G20-MACS
(“Agricultural Chief Scientists”)
 EU (18 ERA-Nets, e.g. LEAP AGRI and 3 Joint Programming Initiatives,
e.g. FACCE)
 Collaboration with various „Leibniz“ Institutes and the
German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ)
 Close dialogue with the German Agricultural Research
Alliance (DAFA)

5. German Agricultural Research Alliance
Umbrella organisation of German research organisations, more than 60 members
21.05.2019 Slide 5

6. 21.05.2019 Slide 6
BMEL Mandate and Core Competence in
Food, Nutrition and Agricultural Policy
 Federal Research Institutes within BMEL mandate:
 Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI): Animal Health
 Thünen Institute (TI): Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries
 Julius Kühn Institute (JKI): Cultivated Plants
 Max Rubner Institute (MRI): Nutrition and Food
as well as:
 Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
Provide scientific input for policy decisions
Contribute to international network

7. BMEL International Research:
Aims and Key Funding Instruments
Aims: 1) Engagement in scientific exchange and progress
2) Creation of enduring international alliances
3) Contribution to capacity development
 Bilateral research collaboration with selected partner countries.
E.g. Joint projects with Japan; exchange of scientists with China, New Zealand


21.05.2019 7
 Research Cooperation for Global Food Security and Nutrition

8. Research Cooperation for Global Food Security and Nutrition
Approach:
 Involvement of relevant partners (e.g. SME´s, NGO´s) and
networks/extension services
 Identification of local solutions
 Based on calls: 2013 (Diversified Agriculture) 2016 (Food
Processing) and 2019 ….link with consumption & diets…
Focus: Sub-Sahara Africa, South & South-East Asia
21.05.2019 Folie 8
Long-term partnerships between German and
corresponding agri- food research facilities to
 improve food security and quality
 create productive and nutrition –
sensitive food production systems
 improve the individual nutritional status

9. 21.05.2019 Slide 9
High Level Round Table
“Internationalisation of Education, Science & Research”
Strategy of the German Federal Government:
 Discuss strategic issues in international cooperation in the areas of
education, science and research
 First topical cycle = Creating Perspectives in Africa
 Identify needs for joint action across ministries and organisations
 Define possible synergies in funding instruments and initiatives
 Implement in close cooperation with African partners
 Chair: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) jointly
with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (AA)
 Participants: Federal Departments, selected research and science
organisations, experts from African states/organisations
 BMEL = Chair of the working group for agriculture, nutrition and food
production (1 out of 4)

10. 21.05.2019 Slide 10
Working Group
“Agriculture, nutrition and food production”
Conceptual framework (current state of discussion)
„Holistic approach to Food Systems /Advanced Agro Data Science “
A) Looking at the production, processing, marketing and consumption of foods,
including the related social, political, economic and environmental implications.
B) Make use of new opportunities (also in the area of food security) by access to big
and open data and gaining the respective processing and interpretation skills.
Implementation of the concept by the following components:
1) Capacity development (e.g. by creation of academic units)
2) Research and development (e.g. joint German – African projects)
3) Practice transfer (e.g. creation of networks)
Approach: Participants to the Round Table bring in their respective
expertise and funding instruments to create synergies

11. 21.05.2019 Slide 11
Way Forward:
Perhaps the upcoming call on Global Food security and
Nutrition could contribute to this conceptual framework?

12. 21.05.2019 Folie 12
Thank you! And now...
Get to know BMEL colleagues
Quelle: Bundesregierung/ BMEL