FAO Strengthens Collaborations for Sustainable Agrifood Systems at its Science and Innovation Forum

FAO marked an important milestone on 19 October at its Science and Innovation Forum when it signed partnership agreements with three institutions - CAB International (CABI), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), and the Universidade de São Paulo (USP). With a specific focus on harnessing science, technology and innovation to enhance global food security, the three partnerships will all support agrifood systems transformation and accelerate progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The signing ceremony, attended by individuals from various international organizations and academic institutions – including representatives of the three partner institutions and senior FAO officials – highlighted the commitment of FAO and its partners to driving transformative change in agrifood systems.

FAO’s Chief Scientist, Ismahane Elouafi, expressed the significance of the three partnerships, stating, “Today, we celebrate the power of transformative collaborations in revolutionizing agrifood systems by harnessing science, technology, and innovation. These partnerships hold immense potential in accelerating the transformation of agrifood systems, ultimately leading us towards achieving the SDGs with the noble aim of leaving no one behind.”

Marcela Villarreal, Director of FAO's Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division, called for global unity in achieving the shared goal of food security and sustainable agricultural development, a sentiment echoed by Mario Lubetkin, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO in Latin America and the Caribbean, who emphasized the importance of the partnerships for the Latin American and Caribbean region.

FAO and CAB International

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FAO and CABI aims to enhance support for smallholder farmers in low and medium-income countries (LMICs). This collaboration will leverage science, technology and innovation to help farmers increase productivity and reduce waste, thereby strengthening global food security. Key areas of cooperation outlined in the MoU include sustainable plant production and protection, evidence synthesis, research and development, agricultural extension services, young scientist exchanges, and science communication. The agreement also allows for flexibility to address emerging issues of common interest between FAO and CABI.

Signing the MoU on behalf of CABI, Ulrich Kuhlmann, CABI’s Executive Director, welcomed the agreement with the FAO and looked forward to continuing shared collaborations on science, innovation, and technology as part of a global effort towards greater food security. “Our agreement with the FAO will see the creation of an action plan to support smallholder farmers in low- and lower-middle income countries grow more and lose less to crop pests and diseases. We will work more closely with the FAO to help strengthen plant production and protection for sustainable crop production systems, improved science and evidence-informed policy processes and science communication.”

FAO and the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies

The second agreement signed was the renewal of an MoU between FAO and CIHEAM, aiming to support the transition towards more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems in the Mediterranean region, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and CIHEAM’s priority programmes. The MoU underlines the partnership’s potential as a lever for sustainable green and blue entrepreneurship, as a catalyst for greater multi-stakeholder engagement in the Mediterranean, and to add value to the Sustainable Food Systems-Mediterranean Platform (SFS-MED Platform) to attract and mobilize investments in the SFS-MED Platform Flagship projects.

Teodoro Miano, Secretary General of CIHEAM, highlighted that, “the relevance of this partnership, which began informally in 1977, concerns a unique set of actions in the Mediterranean involving all the CIHEAM centres and resources. The complexity of the MoU allows action plans in several relevant topics, such as food security, trade, fragile food communities and distress migration, women and youth empowerment, sustainable food systems, coastal management and small fisheries, among others.”

FAO and the University of São Paulo

The third agreement signed, a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the University of São Paulo (USP), focuses on strengthening science-policy interfaces for agrifood systems and supporting innovation and technology at regional and country levels, aligning with the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy, which emphasizes science-based decision making and technology advancements. Areas of interest in the collaboration with USP include enhancing science-policy interfaces and supporting sustainable innovation and technology.

Paulo Alberto Nussenzveig, Provost of Research and Innovation at USP, stated that, "in USP, we understand that food security is a crucial issue for humanity, and Brazil, with the University's engagement, plays a leading role. Our current administration has already established two centres focused on agriculture and one centre focused on the Amazon, which demonstrates our unequivocal commitment."

The importance of FAO’s transformative partnerships

These collaborative agreements signed by FAO during the Science and Innovation Forum highlight the pivotal role of FAO partnerships with academia and intergovernmental organizations in advancing sustainable agrifood systems. By bridging the gap between knowledge and practical application, these collaborations contribute to the development and implementation of innovative solutions in the agrifood systems sector. The involvement of institutions such as USP, CABI and CIHEAM underscores the critical role of academia and intergovernmental organizations in driving scientific research, innovation and evidence-based policymaking in agriculture.

By fostering these connections, FAO strengthens its ability to develop and implement solutions, while fostering collective efforts within the global agricultural community to address the challenges of food security and sustainable agriculture. These collaborations not only bring together diverse expertise but also demonstrate a strong commitment to leaving no one behind in the pursuit of achieving the SDGs.

For more information, please visit the FAO Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) website.