IAK at GFFA 2026: Digital twins for water, nutrition, and resilience

Water. Harvests. Our Future.

Under this motto, representatives from politics, science, business, and civil society gathered in Berlin from Jan 14-17, 2026, at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) to discuss key issues for the future of global agricultural and food systems. IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH (IAK) participated in high-level expert and political formats with its own stand and contributions from projects it has carried out, which are funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Regional Identity (BMLEH).

Joint stand IAK – VISTA: Digital twins for sustainable agricultural systems

The IAK presented itself at the cooperation exchange together with VISTA Remote Sensing in Geosciences GmbH (VISTA). The focus was on digital twins for agricultural and food systems: these enable production and environmental processes to be dynamically mapped, water availability and quality to be analyzed in (near) real time, historical developments to be traced, and future scenarios to be simulated using AI and climate models. On this basis, long-term strategies for sustainable water management and effective water governance can be developed, among other things – a key contribution to strengthening water resilience and food security, the focus of this year's GFFA.

Our joint stand attracted a great deal of interest. One highlight was the visit by the Angolan Minister of Agriculture, Isaac Francisco Maria dos Anjos. He expressly praised the IAK's more than 40 years of cooperation with Angola.

Delegation visit by the African Union as part of the APD AU

As part of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue between the African Union and Germany on strengthening the resilience of food systems in Africa (APD AU), a high-level delegation from the African Union led by Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Bioeconomy, and Environment, took part in the GFFA. The visit aimed to deepen dialogue and cooperation with the German agricultural sector, especially with political decision-makers, research institutions, and the agricultural industry.

A highlight was the AU High-Level Panel on “Sustainable Water Resource Management for Food Security in Africa – A Stronger Voice for Agriculture and the Blue Bioeconomy,” organized jointly with the BMLEH. In his keynote speech, Commissioner Vilakati emphasized the importance of sustainable water management for food security, climate adaptation, and the expansion of the blue bioeconomy in Africa.

The delegation also took part in the Berlin Agricultural Ministers' Conference, which represents the political highlight of the GFFA and ended with the adoption of the final communiqué. In this context, the role of water, agriculture, and food security in a global context was once again emphasized. As part of the program, Commissioner Vilakati held a bilateral meeting with Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer. The talks focused on strengthening German-African cooperation in the agricultural sector, further developing the APD, and joint priorities in the areas of seeds, soil fertility, water, and resilient food systems. Further bilateral talks served as a platform for targeted exchanges with key players from politics, research, and business. These included talks with Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Prof. Dr. Andreas Ordon, President of the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), and Elmar Pfülb, President of the Federal Plant Variety Office. The program was complemented by the German-African Agribusiness Reception, where Commissioner Vilakati spoke with leading German agricultural companies and associations about investment and cooperation opportunities along agricultural value chains.

A special item on the agenda was a visit to the Dahlem Seed Bank in the Berlin Botanical Garden. Commissioner Vilakati was accompanied by the agriculture ministers from Botswana and Angola. The focus was on the conservation of plant genetic resources, modern seed preservation, and the importance of gene banks for food security, biodiversity, and climate adaptation, particularly in the African context. Overall, the delegation's visit underscored the strategic importance of the APD as a platform for structured exchange between the African Union and the German agricultural sector in politics, research, and business, and strengthened the foundation for deeper, long-term cooperation.

Expert panel on “Water, Food & Climate: Lessons from Sino-German Cooperation”

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges facing global agriculture. Against this backdrop, experts from science and practice discussed solutions for sustainable agriculture in arid regions – with a view to their international transferability. The panel was organized by the Sino-German Agricultural Center (DCZ), IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH, and the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO). IAK (lead) and IAMO jointly run the DCZ.

The example of China clearly illustrates how structural water stress and agricultural production targets clash: large agricultural areas are confronted with limited water availability. Similar challenges are also evident in Central Asia and increasingly in Germany, e.g., in Brandenburg, where climate change-induced droughts are putting pressure on agriculture. There was agreement that technical innovations are only effective if they are embedded in integrated water and agricultural systems. Topics discussed included modern irrigation technologies, water reuse, and digital and AI-supported solutions to strengthen the resilience of agricultural businesses. At the same time, it was emphasized that climate adaptation is just as important as emission reduction and that international cooperation, especially German-Chinese cooperation and North-South and South-South partnerships, plays a key role.

Ministerial meeting on Southeast Europe: Agriculture as a bridge to EU integration

On Jan 16, 2026, the GFFA hosted the Ministerial Meeting on Southeast Europe on the topic of “Food and agriculture in the Berlin Process – connecting different areas with a view to the EU accession process.” Representatives from Southeast Europe and the EU discussed the role of agriculture, food, and forestry in the Berlin Process with a view to the EU accession process.

The discussion was based on the working paper “Towards 2030,” jointly prepared by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (BMLEH) and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group of South Eastern Europe (SWG), which builds on the Skopje Declaration (2024) and the Pristina Conclusions (2025). The IAK is the implementing partner of the SWG in the Agricultural Policy Dialogue Germany – South-Eastern Europe (APD SEE) and is responsible for the international consulting contribution.

The ministers reaffirmed that the agri-food and forestry sectors are key areas for regional stability, more resilient supply chains, and a credible, performance-based approach to the EU. Measurable progress is to be achieved by 2030, primarily through alignment with EU SPS and veterinary standards and through enhanced regional coordination. The working paper serves as a joint orientation for further cooperation within the framework of the Berlin Process.

GFFA Cluster Meetings: Examples from IAK project work

At these networking events, experts from politics, business, and science discuss specific topics in certain regions—this year, for example, water, bioeconomy, and regional project work—thus promoting international cooperation and knowledge exchange. Cluster meetings were also held on the project regions supported by the IAK, e.g., Latin America (LATAM), Asia, Southeast Europe, and the forestry sector, with representatives from projects carried out by the IAK taking part.

Two selected examples, representing the diversity of IAK’s project portfolio:

• APD SEE: Karin Rau, an expert at the IAK, presented successful examples of economic cooperation between Germany and the countries of the Western Balkans. Using concrete practical examples, she showed how close partnerships in the agricultural and food sectors can contribute to economic integration and effectively support the EU rapprochement process.
• Ukraine Forestry: In the forestry cluster, experts discussed further support for Ukraine by the BMLEH. The IAK highlighted the great opportunities for cooperation: on the Ukrainian side, there is a high level of willingness to further develop, while German institutions can contribute their expertise in sustainable, multifunctional forest management – with measurable progress, for example, in approaching European standards. At the same time, challenges were identified, including war-related changes, unstable partner structures, and an increasing need for flexible cooperation instruments.