FAO and Pinduoduo: Collaborative Engagement Driving Digital Transformation in Agriculture
In an era marked by climate change, resource constraints, and population growth challenge global food systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is working closely with Pinduoduo, China’s largest agricultural e-commerce marketplace, to accelerate digital innovation in agriculture. This collaborative engagement is reshaping agri-food systems to become more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
Collaborative engagements are at the heart of the FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement (2026-2030). These structured, yet not binding, interactions between FAO and private sector actors are aimed at advancing shared objectives through mutual learning, co-creation, and trust-building.
Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development of Agrifood Systems in China Project
The objective of the Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development of Agrifood systems in China Research Project is to ensure the resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems in a changing climate and environment. The project promotes better production driven by green innovation and digital agriculture. FAO has engaged with Pinduoduo to implement this project through thematic research, industrial and academic analysis, workshops, trainings and research reports. These activities document innovative practices and successful approaches that leverage digital technologies to transform agri-food systems and advance agricultural and rural modernization.
Empowering Youth Through Innovation
The first in-person Digital Agriculture Innovation Bootcamp, held in China in May–June 2025, was jointly co-organized by FAO, Zhejiang University, and Pinduoduo. This immersive programme equipped young agri-tech entrepreneurs, winners of the Global AgriInno Challenge (GAC), with tools to harness technology for more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems. Over seven days, participants explored innovation tools, stakeholder mapping, needs assessment and fundraising skills at Zhejiang University. They then traveled to rural Dali for field visits, where they engaged with farmers, observed smart farming practices that reduce chemical use and improve soil health, and visited the SciTech Backyard and living labs supported by Pinduoduo. The farms served as testing and demonstration sites for scientific findings and to exchange ideas on scaling agri-tech solutions. This combination of classroom learning and real-world experience fostered collaboration and built networks that will accelerate the digital transformation of agrifood systems worldwide.
Smart Agriculture
Since 2020, FAO China and Pinduoduo have engaged in joint activities promoting digital agriculture. The Pinduoduo Smart Agriculture Competition has become a vibrant platform for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics into farming.
With FAO’s technical support, the competition have helped young scientists and technologists develop solutions that boost productivity while advancing sustainability. Pinduoduo’s commitment to agricultural innovation earned it the FAO Innovation Award in 2022, recognizing its role in connecting millions of farmers with over 850 million consumers and improving rural livelihoods.
Strategic Partnership for Global Impact
Beyond competitions, Pinduoduo has supported 21 startup teams, primarily winners and participants of the Global AgriInno Challenge, between 2019 and 2025. Support has gone beyond funding to include mentorship, investor matchmaking, and opportunities to present their solutions on global platforms such as the FAO Science and Innovation Forum in 2024 and 2025. As a lead private-sector contributor, Pinduoduo has shared insights on scaling agri-tech and fostering inclusive digital ecosystems.
Looking ahead, FAO and Pinduoduo are advancing the Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs, a network designed to connect governments, academia, private sector actors, and farmers worldwide. These efforts complement China’s rural revitalization strategy and align with FAO’s vision of transforming agrifood systems.
As FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasized, “We need science and innovation to deliver on our common goals of transforming our agrifood systems to nourish people, nurture the planet, advance equitable livelihoods and build resilient ecosystems.”
Through collaborative engagement with Pinduoduo, FAO is turning this vision into reality, empowering youth, supporting smallholders, and driving digital transformation for a more sustainable future.
