FAO: Science, Technology, and Innovation Drive the Transformation of Global Agri-Food Systems

It is estimated that by 2050, the global population will exceed 9 billion, with urban populations increasing and rural populations declining. Although total food production may be sufficient to feed a growing population, significant disparities persist among countries in the adoption of science, technology, and innovation in agriculture and food production. With many regions worldwide facing severe constraints on arable land and freshwater resources, coupled with land and marine degradation driven by unsustainable farming practices and climate change, we must accelerate the transformation of agricultural and food systems. This can only be achieved through the widespread application of science, technology, and innovation.

The following Five aspects Explain how science, technology, and innovation can help enhance the resilience and sustainability of agricultural food systems.

1. The use of digital applications in agri-food systems

In the agriculture and food sector, cutting-edge advances have been made in information and communication technologies, including mobile technologies, remote sensing, and distributed computing. “Digital Divide” Digitalization enables small-scale producers to leverage mobile phone networks and the internet to access information, inputs, markets, and financing. While these technologies are spreading rapidly, they are also evolving at a breakneck pace, leaving poorer communities struggling to keep up with advances in infrastructure, affordability, digital literacy, regulatory frameworks, and service accessibility.

Mobile applications offer a wide range of functionalities in management, monitoring, marketing, finance, and decision support, and are increasingly relied upon by small-scale producers. For example, in Fiji, a smartphone app is being used to cultivate nutritious crops and promote healthy diets.

Digitalization is helping to transform agricultural and food systems. ©FAO/Arete/Ismail Taxta

Digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain can play a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability of agricultural food systems. By providing training and ensuring access to cutting-edge technologies, FAO is working to ensure that smallholder producers do not miss out on any advances in this rapidly evolving field.
 

2. Develop urban agriculture by innovatively repurposing underutilized spaces.

It is estimated that by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Cities and peri-urban regions boast substantial untapped land and water resources that can be harnessed for crop production, agroforestry, livestock and poultry farming, and aquaculture. Underutilized spaces within and around urban centers can be leveraged to green the environment and produce food, thereby reducing reliance on increasingly costly transportation and imported goods.

As an extension of urban production, “Vertical farming” It can make use of existing buildings or idle structures such as abandoned shipping containers. This form of agriculture leverages vertical space to grow crops in a controlled environment, representing an automated indoor farming system that employs hydroponics, artificial atmosphere control, and LED lighting. Production can take place year-round, unaffected by weather conditions, though installation costs are high and it requires substantial electricity. Although this relatively complex technology is currently suited primarily to regions where specialized equipment and start-up capital are readily available, advances in technology could soon enable its broader adoption.

Innovation helps transform underutilized spaces in cities and their surrounding areas, promoting greening and agricultural development. ©FAO/Ami Vitale

The Food and Agriculture Organization is providing resources to policymakers to develop urban agriculture, ensure that everyone has access to appropriate technologies, and promote the transition of urban areas toward green cities.
 

3. Bridging distances and improving access through the internet

Traditionally, for small-scale rural producers, the farther they are from urban centers, the more difficult it is to access services.

With the development and widespread adoption of digital technologies such as the internet and mobile phones, challenges like long distances, limited access, and high costs have been alleviated. For example, digitizing coordination between producers and buyers and leveraging data sources that inform decision-making have led to significant improvements in planning and management. While mobile technology cannot fully replace physical infrastructure, it does facilitate access to a wide range of services that were previously unavailable.

FAO helps key stakeholders in the value chain identify areas for improvement and provides solutions to these challenges. © FAO/Giulio Napolitano
 

4. Development of Animal Vaccines Using Irradiation Technology

It is essential for the control and prevention of various animal diseases, some of which also pose a threat to human health. Vaccines stimulate an immune response, helping to combat potential outbreaks. Radiation can be used to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms, ensuring that vaccinated animals do not become ill and eliminating the risk of unintended disease caused by live‑attenuated vaccines.

Radiation technology does not require the use of compounds typically employed for inactivating viruses and other microorganisms, thereby facilitating the development of safe animal vaccines.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is implementing a program to provide staff training, as well as supplies and equipment, to Ethiopia’s National Veterinary Institute (NVI). All technical personnel in the NVI’s research and development department have received training from the FAO and the IAEA. “Whether through short-term courses or long-term fellowships, they have been exposed to cutting-edge science,” said Martha Yami, Director of the National Veterinary Institute of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia exports more than one million head of cattle annually, a sector that is vital to the country’s economy. Ensuring export compliance is impossible without nuclear technology. In countries where disease outbreaks hinder sustainable production, animal vaccines produced using irradiation technology are essential for sustaining the livestock industry.
 

5. Technological advancement drives the upgrading of the value chain.

The value chain is intricate and multifaceted, generating wages, profits, tax revenues, and consumer goods, while also encompassing a wide array of individuals from producers to consumers.

Digital technologies can play a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability of agricultural and food systems. FAO is working to ensure that small-scale producers do not miss out on advances in this field. ©FAO

The sustainability of the value chain depends on economic, social, and environmental factors; any weak link can undermine sustainability at one or all levels.

The Food and Agriculture Organization supports the development of sustainable food value chains by conducting comprehensive assessments to connect producers with consumers. It also assists key stakeholders in these value chains in identifying vulnerabilities and implementing targeted interventions.

Science, technology, and innovation can offer new solutions to the challenges facing agri-food systems. By harnessing these resources, we will be better equipped to produce food sustainably for the future.

Source: WeChat Official Account: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations