New position paper outlines status quo, potential and development needs for geodata infrastructure
From precise sowing planning and optimised fertilisation to determining the best harvest time, geodata plays a central role in agriculture. It helps farmers make better decisions, save resources and optimise yields.
The public sector already provides much of this data, for example via various online portals. However, the data is currently scattered across different locations, often prepared in different formats and technically difficult to use. A lack of data integration, standardised interfaces and legal uncertainties make it difficult for farmers, administrations and digital providers to use the data effectively.
A new position paper from Bitkom outlines the current situation and explains how a uniform, easily accessible and legally secure geodata infrastructure can reduce bureaucracy in agriculture while making it more productive and sustainable. At the heart of the recommendations for action is the call for a one-stop shop for agricultural geodata that provides all relevant information in a bundled form. “A central one-stop shop for geodata would enable farmers to access all relevant information – from soil and weather data to plant protection requirements – in one place. This saves time, reduces sources of error and facilitates informed decisions in the field,‘ says Margareta Maier, Digital Farming Consultant at Bitkom. ’Clear, structured processing of geodata is also essential to enable artificial intelligence and other digital tools to realise their full potential for the industry.” The paper is available for free download here: Making geodata usable | Position paper 2025 | Bitkom e. V.
The potential of digital tools for agriculture is also the focus of Bitkom’s Digital Farming Conference on 23 September in Berlin. Topics range from regulatory and technical developments to geodata and artificial intelligence to current application examples and collaborations. Participants include Hubertus Paetow (President of the DLG), Engel Arkenau (Digitalisation Officer & Head of Division at the BMLEH), Andy Becht (State Secretary in the Ministry of Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of Rhineland-Palatinate), Theresa Schmidt (Chairwoman of the German Rural Youth Association), Tilman Eichstädt (COO Upstream, HelloFresh International), Martha Wenzel (Managing Director and Co-founder, E-Terry) and Andreas Dörr (farmer & managing director of Doerr-Agrar).
