It is an honor to welcome all of you for this first International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers.
Let me start by highlighting that the world is facing unprecedented challenges that affect the sustainability of our food systems.
The impacts of climate change on the agricultural sectors are undermining our efforts to provide food security and adequate nutrition for all.
In fact, climate extremes such as prolonged droughts are threatening to erode and even reverse gains made in ending hunger over the last decades.
As you know very well, hunger has increased in the world since 2015, the same year in which UN Member States agreed to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030 (SDG number 2).
Today, farmers are facing higher temperatures, erratic weather patterns, increased desertification and water scarcity, as well as the outbreak of pests and diseases that are spreading around more quickly than ever.
The Fall Army Worm in Africa is one of the best examples of this.
As usual, small-scale family farmers are the most affected and vulnerable. We cannot forget that they make up the bulk of people suffering from poverty and hunger in the world.
At the same time, family farmers produce most of the food we eat, particularly healthy and nutritious food, and they play key roles in the preservation of the environment and biodiversity.
Family farming also contributes to the creation of more employment opportunities, particularly for youth and women in developing countries. This can help to tackle the increasing levels of forced and distress migration in the world.
So it is fundamental to better support family farmers to cope with these unprecedented climatic challenges.
For that, we need to accelerate the pace of innovation at family farmers’ level, and this is what this symposium is all about.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In agriculture and food systems, innovation happens when we transform new ideas into practice, as well as when we combine and apply existing practices, processes and organizational ways of working to different contexts.
Innovation is essential across the entire food system. This includes production, processing, distribution, market access, as well as public policies and specific legislation.
Over the last years, FAO and partners have supported countries and family farmers in the application of innovative practices, such as the agroecological zero-tillage in South America and Asia.
Another example is the link between school meals and family farming production. This is an innovative approach to guarantee market access to family farmers that has been introduced in many countries.
Innovation is also about replicating and scaling-up existing solutions through international cooperation.
A good example is the programme called One Million Cisterns that is being implemented in the Sahel. It is based on a Brazilian experience to store rain water in arid regions.
We also have to recognize the successful innovations that family farmers have implemented over centuries, and support them to develop and spread this traditional knowledge.
FAO has been promoting a modality of South-South Cooperation called farmer to farmer, through which family farmers directly exchange ideas, knowledge and practices.
Digital innovation is another important field to be further explored.
FAO has used digital innovation, for instance, to provide meteorological and climate data to family farmers, enhancing early warning and disaster risk reduction models.
Innovative technologies, such as drones, satellite imaging, remote sensors and mobile applications, are also important to prevent transboundary pest and diseases in crop and livestock production.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The UN Secretary General has emphasized the need to integrate innovative technologies to achieve the SDGs.
FAO has heard these calls to innovate.
We are seeking to develop solutions that can be easily, cheaply, and sustainably replicated across countries and regions.
For instance: you may have heard of blockchain. It is a decentralized, distributed and public digital ledger used to record transactions.
This can be used for financial transactions, mobility of animals or several other purposes.
FAO is testing blockchain/ for food chain optimization, traceability, enforcement of rights, and improving financial transaction processes.
FAO is also partnering with young people.
In 2018, we have launched open challenges to promote digital innovation and youth entrepreneurship, connecting FAO technical expertise with young innovators.
One of these challenges was tackled during the regional Conference on youth employment in agriculture, which took place last August in Kigali, Rwanda.
The young African developers that won the challenge are here in FAO Headquarters this week.
They are exchanging experiences with our technical divisions to improve their ideas and develop digital solutions, such as using artificial intelligence techniques to deal with transboundary pests and diseases.
FAO is also working with the private sector, such as Google, Telefonica de España, Unilever and others, to leverage the tools and resources of these companies in order to enhance the impact of our programmes.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This symposium gathers diverse stakeholders to share their knowledge and to unlock policies, programmes and business models.
We need to increase our understanding of the innovation drivers and processes.
We also need to look for concrete solutions, identify priority interventions and develop strategies to scale up successful experiences to meet the needs of millions of family farmers.
This is very important as we are about to enter the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028.
Let me express my appreciation for the financial support provided by the European Union, Canada, the US, France, Italy and IFAD for the organization of this symposium.
Through this financial support, we have managed to bring nearly 125 delegates to this event, mainly family farmers and farmer organizations.
Let me also highlight that FAO and the Government of Switzerland have launched an International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture.
The call for nominations for this Innovation Award is now open.
Individuals, institutions or countries can submit their nominations by the end of February 2019. More information can be found on FAO’s website.
To conclude, I wish all of you successful deliberations and presentations during this symposium.
Let’s innovate. This is crucial for implementing the 2030 Agenda and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Thank you for your attention
