The International Association of Agricultural Production Insurers (AIAG) successfully concluded its 2025 Congress in Rotterdam, held from September 22–24, under the theme “Climate Volatility and Food Security: Political Goals and Agricultural Reality.”
This year’s Congress brings together over 400 participants – insurers, reinsurers, and industry experts from around the world – to address the challenges that climate change poses to agricultural risk management and global food security.
As climate change accelerates and extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, the global agricultural sector faces unprecedented risks – ranging from excessive drought, rainfall and storms to phenological shifts such as the early onset of vegetation that increases exposure to damaging spring frosts. The impacts of a changing climate not only significantly reduce crop yields but also severely affect livestock production through heat stress, disease proliferation and forage shortages. Consequential disruptions in supply chains result in food insecurity – one of the most critical future threats.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have emerged as a central insurance-based tool for mitigating these risks by enabling governments and private insurers to combine their strengths – know-how, financial resources, operational efficiency and technology to develop agricultural insurance systems that are more accessible, affordable, and resilient. Premium subsidies make insurance more affordable, while private sector expertise ensures products are scalable, customer-focused, and efficiently administered. PPPs thus play a vital role in ensuring that farmers receive the protection they need to withstand the growing impact of climate change.
“Climate volatility is no longer a distant threat—it is a daily reality,” said Pascal Forrer, AIAG President. “Through collaboration between public and private sectors, we can build insurance systems that reduce vulnerability and encourage agricultural investment. It’s not just about compensation after natural disasters – it’s about building a more resilient global food system.”
Richard Weurding, director general of the Dutch Association of Insurers: "Water Safety in the Netherlands is ensured by well-designed and maintained flood defences, but climate change brings new challenges for our Delta. We are already seeing an increase in severity and frequency of losses caused by extreme weather, and we expect this trend will continue, when no action is taken. Besides sea level rise, salinization and heavy rain, our country is facing risks that colleagues abroad have been familiar with for some time — such as drought, wild fires and extreme hailstorms. It is important to share knowledge and best practices, and that is why we are pleased to host this conference in the Netherlands. It is essential to work together with our clients to find ways to respond to a changing climate, particularly in terms of damage and food security."
The agenda focused on several key topics, including parametric crop insurance, climate adaptation strategies, and the role of advanced technologies such as AI, cloud solutions, satellite data and weather modeling. These tools are revolutionizing how risks are assessed, monitored, and managed, improving accuracy, transparency, and delivery speed. Innovative technologies reduce administrative burdens and build trust among farmers.
As the 2025 Congress comes to a close, participants leave Rotterdam united by a shared commitment: to strengthen international cooperation and drive innovation in agricultural insurance in the face of a rapidly changing climate.
