The third edition of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum (SIF 2024) will be organized from 14 to 18 October 2024 under the umbrella of the World Food Forum (WFF), together with the Global Youth Forum and Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The main theme of SIF 2024 will be Inclusive Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation, Leaving No One Behind, aligned with the WFF 2024 overall theme of Good Food for All for Today and Tomorrow.
This Forum serves as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among scientists, innovators, policymakers, farmers’ organizations, and stakeholders from diverse sectors.
The technical sessions at the Forum will be organized around three critical themes:
- Biotechnologies: Exploring the latest advancements and applications in biotechnology to enhance agricultural productivity, resilience, and sustainability
- Community-Driven Innovations: Highlighting grassroots innovations and community-led initiatives that drive local and regional agrifood systems transformation.
- Digital Agriculture: Examining the role of digital technologies, such as precision farming, Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence, in revolutionizing agricultural practices and improving supply chain efficiencies.
These themes have been selected not only for their significant role in transitioning towards efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, but also because of the questions they raise and the sometimes-polarizing viewpoints they elicit.
To achieve meaningful impact, we need to address critical challenges such as closing the science, technology, and innovation (STI) gap in low- and middle-income countries, scaling up successful solutions, and harnessing the power of behavioural science.
We must close the STI gap by addressing disparities in access to scientific knowledge and technological resources, ensuring equitable participation and benefits for all communities.
Scaling up successful solutions is crucial for expanding the reach of effective technologies and improving food security and resilience through collaborative efforts. Leveraging behavioural science helps drive the adoption and sustained use of innovations by understanding stakeholder motivations and designing interventions that nurture a culture of sustainability and adaptation.
Building on the success of SIF 2023, the Forum brings together globally recognized science and innovation experts and encourages a diversity of perspectives based on science. It facilitates inclusive debate and showcases how science and innovation can be leveraged for agrifood systems transformation.
More information here.