Agrifood for Tomorrow: robotics and automation

Within the framework of FAO’s Brussels office activities related to Agrifood for Tomorrow, FAO participated in the two-day Forum on Robotics in Agriculture, organized by the Brussels Institute for Advanced Studies (BrIAS). 

The Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, Raschad Al-Khafaji, was invited to provide opening remarks. He highlighted that technology, innovation and data are identified as three cross-cutting accelerators within FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31, which are intended to speed up progress and maximize efforts in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Highlighting the paramount importance that FAO gives to science and innovation, he alluded to the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy.  

He stressed that science and innovation were emerging as key components of the evolving global development agenda, and noted that a wide range of approaches, technologies and practices can contribute to the transformation of agrifood systems. These range from digital tools and biotechnologies to innovations in agroecology and agroforestry.  

He concluded that science and innovation underpin them all and that FAO envisions a world free from hunger and malnutrition, where the potential of science and innovation is fully leveraged to overcome complex social, economic, and environmental challenges of agrifood systems in a globally equitable, inclusive, and sustainable manner.  

FAO’s technical expertise was in the spotlight with Nikola Trendov (Digital Agriculture and Innovation Specialist at FAO’s Office of Innovation) delivering a presentation that focused on the challenges and opportunities in the Global South and explained how his team strives to include women and youth by organizing a wide range of activities such as hackathons. 

Curious about FAO’s Digital Agriculture Team? You can find more information about them here.