Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

Seeds of Tomorrow: Shaping the Future of Agrifood Systems Through Technology and Innovation

Abstract:

The global agrifood system faces unprecedented challenges, demanding transformative solutions. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and biotechnology hold immense potential to revolutionize food production, processing, and distribution. This novel submission aligns with the "Harvesting Change" report, emphasizing the importance of anticipatory approaches to harness these innovations for a sustainable future. By engaging stakeholders at the regional level, we can navigate the potential pathways of agrifood system transformation and ensure equitable access to these advancements. This approach fosters global discussions and contributes to a full foresight of the future agrifood system.

Introduction:

The current global agrifood system is strained by population growth, climate change, and resource scarcity (Godfray et al., 2010). Traditional methods struggle to meet these demands, necessitating a paradigm shift towards innovative and sustainable solutions. Foresight, the systematic exploration of future possibilities (Gavard-Joyal, 2019), offers a valuable framework to navigate this transition. This novel submission responds to the call for submissions "From Foresight to Field" by exploring how regional stakeholder engagement can deepen our understanding of potential pathways for agrifood system transformation and contribute to the full foresight envisioned in the "Harvesting Change" report (FAO, 2021).

Background:

The "Harvesting Change" report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presents a comprehensive analysis of emerging technologies and innovations with the potential to transform agrifood systems (FAO, 2021). It highlights key challenges such as food security, environmental degradation, and social equity concerns. However, the report also identifies promising opportunities, including precision agriculture, vertical farming, and innovative food processing techniques.

Emerging Technologies and Innovations:

The "Harvesting Change" report emphasizes the transformative potential of several key areas:

1.    Artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize decision-making in agriculture by analyzing vast datasets to optimize resource use, predict crop yields, and manage pests and diseases (Liakos et al., 2018).

2.    Biotechnology offers advancements in areas like gene editing and biofertilizers, potentially leading to more resilient crops, improved nutritional profiles, and reduced environmental impact (Van der Meer, 2019).

3.    Sustainable practices such as circular economy approaches, conservation agriculture, and renewable energy integration are crucial for building environmentally sound and resource-efficient food systems (Reijnders and Circular Economy Platform for the Netherlands, 2015).

These innovations, along with others like automation and robotics, hold the promise of a more productive, sustainable, and equitable agrifood system.

Regional Perspectives and Stakeholder Engagement:

The implementation of these technologies will necessarily vary across regions. Factors like resource availability, infrastructure development, and socio-economic conditions will influence the adoption and adaptation of these innovations (Liao et al., 2021). Regional foresight exercises, involving stakeholders from government, research institutions, farmers, consumers, and the private sector, are crucial for identifying regionally specific challenges and opportunities (Dreborg, 2006). This collaborative approach fosters knowledge exchange, fosters innovation ecosystems, and ensures equitable access to the benefits of these advancements.

Anticipatory Approaches:

Anticipatory approaches, which involve proactively exploring and preparing for potential future scenarios, are essential for navigating the complex landscape of agrifood system transformation (Rip and Kemp, 1998). By engaging stakeholders in foresight exercises, we can identify potential risks and opportunities associated with emerging technologies, enabling proactive policy development and investment strategies. This approach fosters resilience and agility, allowing agrifood systems to adapt to unforeseen challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Pathways to Transformation:

Several potential pathways can guide the transformation of agrifood systems at the regional level:

1.    Policy development that incentivizes sustainable practices, fosters innovation, and promotes equitable access to technology is crucial.

2.    Investment strategies that prioritize research and development, infrastructure upgrades, and capacity building for farmers and other stakeholders can accelerate progress.

3.    Educational initiatives are essential for equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills required to operate within a technology-driven agrifood system.
By implementing these pathways, regions can embark on a transformative journey towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
Conclusion:

Foresight offers a powerful tool for shaping the future of agrifood systems. By engaging stakeholders at the regional level, we can navigate the potential pathways of transformation and harness the power of emerging technologies. This collaborative approach, along with a commitment to anticipatory methods, fosters global discussions and paves the way for a future where agrifood systems are not only productive but also environmentally responsible and socially just. Realizing this vision requires a collective effort, and this submission serves as a call to action for stakeholders around the world to:

1.    Champion regional foresight exercises: Engage in collaborative discussions to identify regionally specific challenges and opportunities for agrifood system transformation.

2.    Embrace anticipatory approaches: Proactively explore potential future scenarios to prepare for both risks and opportunities associated with emerging technologies.

3.    Invest in research and development: Allocate resources to support the development and adaptation of technologies for regional contexts.

4.    Foster innovation ecosystems: Create environments that encourage collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and other stakeholders.

5.    Promote capacity building: Equip farmers and other actors within the agrifood system with the skills and knowledge to utilize new technologies effectively.

6.    Prioritize equitable access: Ensure that the benefits of technological advancements are distributed fairly across all segments of society.
By collaborating across regions and fostering a culture of innovation, we can transform our agrifood systems into engines of sustainability, prosperity, and well-being for all.

References:
1.    Dreborg, A. (2006). The future of foresight methodology. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 73(8), 937-962. 
2.    FAO. (2021). Harvesting change: Harnessing emerging technologies and innovations for agrifood system transformation. 

3.    Godfray, H. C. J., Beddington, J. R., Crute, I. R., Haddad, L., Lawrence, D., Muir, J. F., ...and Toulmin, C. (2010). Food security: The challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science, 327(5967), 812-818.

4.    Gavard-Joyal, M. (2019). Foresight methodologies: A critical review. Futures, 111, 70-80.  

5.    Liakos, G., Peregrine, D., Mavridis, P., and Papadopoullos, T. (2018). Machine learning in agriculture: A review. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 149, 99-118.

6.    Liao, X., Wang, J., You, J., Yang, Z., and Cui, J. (2021). Emerging technologies for sustainable food systems: Transformative innovation or incremental change? Environmental Science and Policy, 120, 144-153.  

7.    Reijnders, L., and Circular Economy Platform for the Netherlands. (2015). Circular economy in the Netherlands: Dutch platform for circular economy. Platform CBE.  

8.    Rip, A., and Kemp, R. (1998). Technological change. In S. Rayner and M. Malone (Eds.), Human choice and climate change (Vol. 2, pp. 327-349). Battelle Press.  

9.    Van der Meer, I. M. (2019). Transgenic crops for industrial uses: Production and applications. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 56, 19-26.

AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS AND IRRIGATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES

Agriculture and agrifood systems are the engines of our survival as a people. We depend on this food and its monetary returns for personal, national, and international development. This is because, just as our agrifood systems provide us with food, other countries in the world depend on them for their overall development agenda. It also provides employment to over 1 billion people in Africa and beyond. For this reason, there is a need to have a working and sustainable agrifood system. Human resources have been the oldest form of energy that has empowered the sector over the centuries. Over the years, human resources have been the only force behind all subsectors of the agriculture value chain. The zeal and tenacity of our forefathers have produced whatever we are enjoying today as a people, but due to climate change and unmatched tenacity for the present generation, our agrifood systems are gradually deteriorating, therefore discovering the two-word phrase "food Insecurity". Food insecurity has been on the tables of discussion across the world just because of our failing agrifood systems. There is a need to scale up efforts in order to safeguard our agricultural systems. In the advent of technology, where technology is being applied to every sector of the world's economy to keep things going, the agriculture and agrifood systems cannot be left out. Technology could be applied at every unit within agriculture in order to expedite production and sustain our agrifood systems.

From production, sorting, transportation, packaging, marketing, wholesaling, warehousing, and retailing, there are customised technologies that could augment the effort of humans in order to have a working and sustainable sector and value chain. In an era where climate change has become an issue of global discourse and an issue to reckon with within the agriculture sector because of the reliance of the sector on natural weather for its survival, There is a need to identify technologies that could support the irrigation unit of the value change. Relying solely on the natural weather in this era could fail our agrifood systems. Therefore, there is a need to scale up efforts in this era of technological advancement to support our irrigational facilities. This brings us to a technology that could change the story in the irrigation sector.

In order to connect farmers, academics, and policymakers to address the issues of sustainable
water management in agrifood systems, this proposal introduces the Smart Irrigation Network
(SIN), a data-driven platform (Abdikadir et al., 2023; Vallejo-Gómez et al., 2023). The SIN
comprises a real-time sensor network, a data analytics platform, and a policy and research
a real-time sensor network, data analytics platform, policy and research platform. SIN supports evidence-based policymaking and encourages innovation in water management techniques by utilising real-time data and advanced analytics to provide customised irrigation solutions suited to each farm’s unique requirements (Abdikadir et al.,2023). Through cooperative efforts among farmers, researchers, and policymakers, SIN can
propel significant agricultural resilience and sustainability improvements.
Potential Outcomes and Impact
There are several possible benefits and consequences that the SIN implementation can bring
about. These include better crop yields, water use efficiency, data-driven policymaking, and
environmental sustainability. SIN offers a revolutionary solution to the intricate problems
pertaining to water management in agrifood systems by utilising real-time data and
sophisticated analytics. This will ultimately help to promote sustainable agriculture and the
resilience of rural communities across the globe (Said-Mohamed et al., 2021).
Innovative Data Leveraging
The proposed policy’s success depends on the application of novel data-driven approaches to
inform decision-making and track progress toward sustainability objectives. Policymakers can
acquire insights into water availability, usage trends, and environmental implications at
different scales by utilising data from remote sensing, real-time sensor networks, and
geographic information systems (GIS). It suggests a SIN that employs real-time sensor data
and remote sensing information to improve decision-making at all levels. Farmers benefit from
real-time data to optimise irrigation, while policymakers receive insight into water usage
patterns and can target actions in water-scarce locations (Hartin et al., 2018; Rani et al., 2022.
Thakur et al., 2020). Anonymised SIN data is also available for study into innovative water-
saving solutions. In a nutshell, this data-driven approach strives to increase agricultural yields,
enhance water usage efficiency and fulfil long-term water management goals.
Policy Development and Implementation
To work with the turn of events and execution of the proposed policy, a multi-partner approach
is fundamental. This includes drawing in significant partners—government agencies,
agricultural producers, CSOs, and research institutions, in the policy development process. By
encouraging joint effort and agreement building, policymakers can guarantee key stakeholders’
upfront investment and backing, prompting more viable execution and reasonable results.
In brief, the transition of agrifood systems towards increased resilience, productivity, and
sustainability depends on sustainable water management. The policy framework that has been
suggested provides a thorough method of tackling the problems of pollution, water shortage,
and agricultural inefficiency. Through the use of data, stakeholder engagement, and innovation
SIN supports evidence-based policymaking and encourages innovation in water management techniques by utilising real-time data and advanced analytics to provide customised irrigation solutions suited to each farm’s unique requirements promotion, this strategy has the potential to produce major advantages for present and future generations.