FAO Director-General urges greater investment in science, innovation and human capital during his visit to Belarus

Minsk, Belarus – The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) QU Dongyu concluded a two-day visit to Belarus by calling for greater investment in science, innovation and human capital to address growing global food insecurity. He also emphasized the importance of stronger partnerships among governments, research institutions, universities, farmers, the private sector and international organizations to accelerate agrifood systems transformation across Europe, Central Asia and beyond.

The visit centred on BELAGRO-2026, one of the largest agricultural exhibitions in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, where the Director-General joined government leaders, researchers, farmers, agribusiness representatives, investors, and international partners to discuss how science and innovation can help transform agrifood systems while enhancing food security, sustainability and economic development.

Throughout the visit, Qu highlighted the critical role of scientific research, technological innovation and youth engagement in building more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems, in line with FAO’s vision of the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.

Showcasing innovation at BELAGRO 2026

Speaking at the opening ceremony of BELAGRO-2026, the Director-General described the exhibition as an important platform for showcasing innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, and commended Belarus for its continued investment in agricultural modernization. He highlighted the country’s role as a major agricultural producer and exporter in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, as well as its internationally recognized expertise in agricultural engineering and machinery manufacturing, supplying technologies to many countries around the world.

The Director-General noted that agrifood systems worldwide are facing increasing pressures from climate crisis, natural resource constraints, biodiversity loss, animal and plant diseases, as well as geopolitical and economic uncertainties. In response, he underscored the need to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies, biotechnology, precision agriculture, advanced machinery, data systems and other innovations that can help farmers increase productivity, improve resilience and use resources more efficiently.

Following the opening ceremony, Qu toured the exhibition grounds, viewing a wide range of agricultural machinery, technologies and food products. He emphasized that events such as BELAGRO help bridge the gap between science and practice by demonstrating how innovation can deliver practical solutions for producers and rural communities.

He also identified opportunities for deeper cooperation between FAO and Belarus in areas including agricultural innovation, digital transformation, sustainable mechanization, climate resilience, food safety and One Health. In addition, he highlighted the potential for Belarus to share its expertise and technologies with other countries through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

Science and innovation in practice

Ahead of the exhibition, the Director-General visited the Belorussian National Biotechnology Corporation (BNBC) – a country’s major agro-industrial and biotechnology enterprise specialising in deep grain processing. The visit demonstrated how scientific and technological advances can help countries move beyond primary production, strengthen competitiveness and create new economic opportunities across agrifood value chains.

The Director-General also met with leadership and researchers at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, where he received presentations on innovations in the agro-industrial sector and discussed advances in agricultural research, biotechnology, digital agriculture and machinery development.

Investing in the next generation

The Director-General concluded his programme with a visit to the Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University, where he met with university leadership, professors, researchers and students.

During the visit, Qu emphasized how universities were places where the future of agrifood systems was being shaped and that the transformation of agriculture depended not only on policies and investments, but also on knowledge, science, innovation, and people—especially young people.

He stressed the growing importance of interdisciplinary skills in modern agriculture, that combine expertise in digital technologies, environmental management and the One Health approach to address increasingly complex challenges. Innovation is not only about developing new technologies, but also about adapting existing knowledge to local conditions and ensuring that solutions remain practical, science-based, affordable and inclusive.

Qu also referred to FAO initiatives that promote youth engagement, science and innovation, including the World Food Forum and FAO Science Week, and encouraged students to participate in international knowledge-sharing opportunities.