What are the linkages between AI and Food and Environmental challenges?

This was one of the questions addressed by Henry van Burgsteden, FAO Senior Innovation Officer, during a high-level roundtable on AI and Innovation for Addressing Food and Environmental Challenges on a Global Scale at EMTECH Italy 2025. The two-day conference brought together leaders from the health, energy, and environmental sectors to explore the impact and opportunities presented by AI. The panel of experts explored how AI can tackle global challenges and develop solutions in agrifood systems, climate action, and environmental resilience. 

Van Burgsteden underscored the urgency of leveraging AI to combat some of the most pressing challenges of our time. From climate change threatening ecosystems to agrifood systems struggling to meet the nutritional needs of a growing population, AI is a powerful tool capable of reshaping the future—if deployed wisely. 

Van Burgsteden highlighted FAO's usage of AI in agrifood systems, from precision farming to predictive analytics that enhance food production and sustainability. He emphasized the need for ethical AI, referencing the Rome Call for AI ethics, that saw the FAO Director-General as one of the first signatories along with IBM and Microsoft, an initiative by the Pontifical Academy for Life, ensuring that technological advancements benefit all communities, particularly those in vulnerable regions. 

EMTECH 2025 provided a crucial platform for cross-sector dialogue, reinforcing AI’s role as a powerful tool for sustainable development. The roundtable concluded with a call to action: “The tools are here. The technology is ready. Now, the choice is ours,” he stated. “Let’s wield AI not just with intelligence, but with wisdom—to build a more sustainable and equitable world for all, leaving no one behind.”