E-Dialogue of the EBRD-FAO Agrifood Sustainability and Innovation Series: Robotics and Automation in Agrifood Systems

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), is pleased to announce the second E-Dialogue of the Agrifood Sustainability and Innovation Series, to be held online on 11 February 2026, from 14:00 to 15:00 CET.

As agrifood robotics and automation move from experimental pilots to real-world deployment, their adoption across agrifood systems remains uneven. While significant progress has been achieved in post-harvest operations, food processing and distribution, the uptake of automation in primary production continues to face structural, economic and technological barriers. 
Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure that innovation contributes to more inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

This E-Dialogue will provide a platform to examine key questions shaping the future of agrifood automation, including how farmers can avoid technological lock-in, which risk-sharing mechanisms can support wider adoption, and how innovation, investment and public policy can be better aligned to generate lasting impact.

The session will open with a keynote address by Erik Pekkeriet, Program Manager for Vision and Robotics at Wageningen University & Research, followed by a moderated panel discussion bringing together experts from research, industry, technology development, agribusiness and finance. Panelists will include representatives from AgreenCulture, Smart Farm Robotix and The European Agricultural Machinery Association, among others.

By convening diverse perspectives, the E-Dialogue aims to foster informed discussion at the intersection of innovation, sustainability and investment, and to contribute to shaping future-ready agrifood systems.

Participation is open to all interested stakeholders. 
Registration is available here: Meeting Registration - Zoom