Innovation and Technology in Agriculture Trade

Wednesday 21 November 2018: 10h00-12h00.  Room Concordia-1, Palais des Nations, Geneva

FAO supports Member Countries’ effective engagement in the formulation of trade agreements that are conducive to improved food security by strengthening evidence on the implications of changes in trade policies, providing capacity development in the use of this evidence, and facilitating neutral dialogue away from the negotiating table. In this spirit, the FAO has started a dialogue series titled “FAO Geneva Agriculture Trade Talks (FTT)” based on 3i;

Informal: exchanging information, ideas and views without any attributions and reporting.

Interactive: providing a neutral platform for dialogue and engagement among stakeholders.

Inspirational: sharing knowledge and ideas for use in policy and negotiations accordingly.

Each session of the FTT features a presentation of FAO’s knowledge and analysis on the topic in focus, followed by interactive discussion. FTT IV will focus on Innovation and Technology in Agriculture Trade.

Programme

1000-1010 hrs. Welcome remarks by Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Director, FAO Geneva.

1010-1040 hrs. Presentation on the use of Artificial intelligence applications in agriculture and introduction to the FAO-AMIS Commodity Sentiment Index, by Mr. Adam Prakash

1040-1100 hrs. Interactive discussion (comments, questions from the floor).

1100-1130 hrs. Presentation on Emerging Opportunities for the Application of Blockchain in the Agri-food Industry, by Mr. Mischa Tripoli.

1130-1200 hrs. Interactive discussion (comments, questions from the floor).

Kindly register for the FTT at the following weblink: https://goo.gl/forms/3g2r0mr4lDNNMcY42

For further information please contact: Mr. Ahmad Mukhtar,  [email protected]  Tel: 022-9172777

Outline of the Presentations for FTT-IV

 Artificial intelligence applications in Agriculture  

• The ways in which Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we live
• Artificial intelligence applications in agriculture, now and the future
• Introducing the FAO-AMIS Commodity Sentiment Index

-          Objectives

-          How it works

-          Results

-          Future development

Application of blockchain in agri-food industry

Blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) have the potential to change the way we facilitate transactions and exchange value in agricultural supply chains, affecting the production, consumption and trade. The recent FAO and ICTSD publication Emerging Opportunities for the Application of Blockchain in the Agri-food Industry, aims to facilitate a better understanding of the opportunities, applications and challenges for DLTs in the agri-food industry.  DLTs can be a key component of trade facilitation, bringing greater transparency, accountability, efficiency and traceability to the exchange of value and information in agricultural supply chains. The technology has the potential to simplify trade transactions, enhance food safety, facilitate access to trade finance, improve market transparency and strengthen compliance with trade agreements. This presentation aims to raise awareness on the opportunities and challenges for facilitating trade and building inclusive agricultural supply chains with DLTs. 

Speakers

Adam Prakash is an Economist at the FAO Headquarters in Rome.  He is also Research Coordinator for the G-20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS). Adam leads the research pillar of the G20-AMIS initiative, developing models to understand food price volatility evolution and its determinants. He also authored the FAO volume “Safeguarding Food Security in Global Volatile Markets”. Adam is also an integral member of FAO’s outlook team responsible for research, analysis and indicators covering major agricultural commodities (including cassava) and is involved in the publication of numerous reports, including Food Outlook and the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook.  Prior to joining FAO in 2000, Adam was a research fellow at the European Commission and worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (UK). He has a Ph.D. from Imperial College, University of London.

Mischa Tripoli is an Economist in the Trade and Markets Division of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Prior to joining the Trade and Markets Division, he worked in FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in Hungary, and as an economist in the United Nations World Food Programme. His areas of interest include trade and investment in agriculture; innovation and technology in agriculture; international trade policy; trade facilitation; export promotion; and value chain development. His academic background is in development economics and environmental studies, and he holds both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Clark University in Massachusetts, USA.