FAO Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference
Biotechnologies for a Sustainable Future: Driving Agrifood Systems Transformation
Programme
16 - 18 june 2025, FAO, Rome
Looking at the Future: Biotechnologies for achieving efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems and food security
Monday 16 June
11.15 - 12.30
Red Room
The opening panel discussion will focus on the futuristic view on the role of biotechnologies for achieving efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems and food security. The session will highlight why and how international cooperation and transformative partnerships involving governments, researchers, academicians, civil society, farmer networks and private sector are crucial for agrifood system transformation.
In addition, the panel discussion will highlight some of the recent advancements such as synthetic biology, microbial metabolic engineering, molecular data science, analytics, computational methods including Artificial Intelligence (AI) applied to development and application of biotechnological solutions. The session will provide insights on the role of farmer networks, civil society and private sector in promoting biotechnologies for agrifood system transformation.
- Looking at the future: International cooperation and partnerships for promoting biotechnologies for efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems
Ms Jelena Begovic, Chair, Board of Governors, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy and Former Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Government of Serbia. - Application of synthetic biology and microbial metabolic engineering for food security and nutrition
Ms Claudia Vickers, Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Australia - Molecular data science - Analytics and computational methods, including AI, applied to genome, protein sequence, and small molecule data.
Mr Justin Gerke, Sr. Data Science Manager, Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, IN, USA - Exploring the Future of biotechnologies: Integrating foresight across UN and Beyond
Mr Chris Earney, Head UN Futures Lab/Global Hub, UN Futures Lab/Global Hub Executive Office of the Secretary General at the Unities Nations, New York, USA - Biotechnologies at work for smallholder farmers: Lessons of the past, challenges and opportunities of the future
Mr Ajay Vir Jakhar, Chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, Indian Farmers Forum, New Delhi, India - Role of private sector in promoting biotechnological solutions: Increasing investments and engagements
Mr Michael Keller, Secretary General, International Seeds Federation, Nyon, Switzerland