Celebrating Digital Solutions for a Better Future at World Food Forum 2025

As FAO celebrated its 80th anniversary and World Food Day 2025, digital transformation once again stood out as a driving force behind the Organization’s vision for the future. Throughout the World Food Forum (WFF) week, technology’s central role in connecting people, data, and ideas, turning information into action, was showcased through different FAO initiatives. 

At the first-ever FAO Global Exhibition “From Seeds to Foods”, FAO’s digital tools attracted curiosity and engagement, welcoming visitors to explore how technology supports farmers, policymakers, and partners along every step of the agrifood system. Under the theme “Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life – leaving no one behind,”  the Digital FAO booth showcased the Organization’s flagship digital platforms - the FAO Agro-informatics Platform (FAIP), the Digital Services Portfolio (DSP), and the Food Loss App (FLAPP) – each using data in unique but complementary ways, while demonstrating how new technologies can bring timely and actionable information, to connect, and empower communities worldwide.  

• Combining geospatial, local and statistical data, and integrating AI and Machine Learning, FAO’s Agro-informatics Platform unlocks millions of data layers for informed decision-making and effective implementation of programmes and initiatives.  
• The Digital Services Portfolio (DSP) exemplifies how FAO delivers field-ready, user-oriented digital advisories for farmers and rural communities. 
• FLAPP (FAO Food Loss App) supports farmers, producer groups, and companies in reducing food losses from pre-harvest to market across 13 key commodities such as maize, rice, and tomatoes. 

“Our flagship initiatives are more than technological platforms; they are live ecosystems for smarter, faster, and more inclusive decision-making. Behind every map or dashboard are millions of data points coming from farmers, satellites, and national institutions, all harmonized to guide action where it’s needed most.” explains Karl Morteo, Senior Information Technology Officer. 

Meanwhile, in the busy atrium of FAO headquarters, digital tools also animated the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, one of the pillars of the World Food Forum. 11 cutting-edge solutions, offering hands-on and immersive experiences that made complex geospatial and data-driven concepts accessible to everyone were successfully showcased. 

The exhibition space attracted more than 1,500 visitors in five days, a record turnout reflecting the growing curiosity. The interactive installations combined science, storytelling, and games: alongside a live demo of the FAIP,  the FAO Risk Monitor,  ExACT and more online platforms, a VR gaming experience let users explore the environmental consequences of deforestation and planting mangrove trees, while an interactive sandbox projected elevation changes, rainfall and water flow as visitors shaped the sand with their hands. These experiences turned geospatial and data-driven concepts into something visible, tangible, and memorable. 

“As a geospatial analyst, I know how difficult it can be to make people really understand what these tools can do” says Nelson Ribeiro Filho, Geospatial Analysis Team Leader  “You can talk about models and data layers all day, but until someone actually sees the map change before their eyes, the concept remains abstract. Occasions like the WFF week make a huge difference, because they allow us to move from abstract data to real conversations. People can see, touch, and witness in very concrete ways the power of data and technology in making an impact in real time.” he adds.  

Another major attraction during the week was the recently inaugurated Food Security Risk Intelligence and Early Warning Room, offering visitors a look into live data, expert analysis, and automated alerts to generate anticipatory action, rapid-response financing, and even insurance payouts. The room opened its doors to a diverse audience, including government representatives, private sector partners, and development agencies. Through interactive demonstrations, visitors could experience how the platform integrates satellite imagery, climate data, and socioeconomic indicators to anticipate risks, support early action, and strengthen food security worldwide. 

From immersive learning tools to predictive platforms, FAO digital experiences showcased throughout WFF week reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to empowering people through technology. Looking ahead, strengthened digital enhanced capabilities are today, more than ever, our bridge towards a better future for all.