FAO Global Conference on Smart Farming
Leveraging data and technology for sustainable agrifood systems
Hybrid Event, 01/07/2026 - 03/07/2026
/fao_smart-farming_website_landing-page_2000x845px_en.jpg?sfvrsn=b582a2b4_1 "FAO Global Conference on Smart Farming")
An operator flying a seeding drone in Mauritania.
©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
FAO is organizing the Global Conference on Smart Farming: Leveraging data and technology for sustainable agrifood systems from 1 to 3 July 2026 at its headquarters in Rome, Italy, and online.
The three-day conference will explore ways of scaling smart farming systems while showcasing practical innovations that promote youth and women’s entrepreneurship, and digital skills. It will also identify priorities for policy, collaboration, and investment to support context-adapted, scalable solutions, particularly for small-scale farmers.
In the context of this conference, smart farming systems focus on improving the management of agrifood production systems through sustainable practices, efficient input use and resource stewardship. Data, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and precision tools support more informed decision-making and enhanced farm management. This includes optimizing the use of water, fertilizers, pesticides, energy and other inputs while strengthening soil, land and ecosystem health.
The conference will bring together stakeholders from around the world, including FAO Members, policymakers, development partners, and representatives from the private sector, research and academia, civil society, youth and farmers’ organizations.
The conference will convene stakeholders to:
- Examine key enabling conditions and constraints for scaling smart farming systems, including data ecosystems, analytics capacity, governance and regulatory frameworks, technology development and transfer, advisory services and institutional coordination that influence adoption at scale.
- Showcase practical experiences, innovations and best practices where the application of data and analytics, artificial intelligence models and services, and emerging technologies strengthens agricultural production systems – improving input efficiency, soil and water management, and overall sustainability.
- Prioritize youth and women engagement and entrepreneurship as a core pillar, with a focus on skills development and innovation that closes the digital divide and enables full participation in today’s digital society and economy.
- Identify priorities for collaboration, policy action and investment that support context‑adapted, scalable and sustainable adoption of smart farming solutions – particularly for small-scale farmers and unsustainable agrifood systems – bridging the gap between technological potential and practical implementation.
- Smart farming is no longer a choice, but an imperative. Farmers face increasing pressures from climate variability, soil and water degradation, rising input costs and labour constraints. Smart farming offers solutions through timely data, technological support, precision interventions and automation that improve decision-making and agricultural productivity.
- Smart farming requires strong policies, institutions and partnerships. Scaling smart farming depends on coherent national strategies, effective governance, strong institutions and coordinated action among governments, the private sector, research institutions and farmers’ organizations.
- Data, digital infrastructure and innovation are transforming agrifood systems. Artificial intelligence, Earth observation, digital platforms and interoperable data systems enable real-time decision-making, improve productivity, strengthen risk management and support sustainable agrifood systems.
- Smart farming must be inclusive and farmer-centred. Systems and practices must support family farmers and small-scale producers, empower women and youth, and ensure equitable access to skills, finance, technologies and markets so that no one is left behind.
- Technology must work with agronomy, natural resources and local contexts. Smart farming delivers impact only when technologies are combined with sound agronomic practices, efficient soil and water management, local knowledge and solutions adapted to diverse agro‑ecological and socio‑economic conditions.
- Scaling smart farming requires viable investments and innovation ecosystems. Achieving large-scale impact requires sustainable business models, strong innovation ecosystems, accessible services for farmers, and sustained collaboration between public institutions, private companies, research organizations and entrepreneurs.
Draft programme
The conference will be held from Wednesday, 1 to Friday, 3 July 2026. The applicable time zone is Central European Summer Time (CEST/UTC+2).
| Time (UTC+2) | Sessions and locations |
| 09.00–09.30 | Inauguration of exhibition (FAO Atrium, ground floor) |
| 09.40–11.00 | Opening ceremony (Plenary Hall, A335B) |
| 11.00–12.30 | Ministerial segment (Plenary Hall) |
| 12.30–14.00 | Side event: Nuclear techniques and biotechnologies for smart farming (Sheikh Zayed Centre) |
| 14.00–15.30 | Plenary roundtable: Governance – effective and inclusive policies for smart farming systems (Plenary Hall) |
| 15.30–16.00 | Break |
| 16.00–17.30 | Plenary roundtable: Strengthening agrifood production systems through science, data and digital innovation (Plenary Hall) |
| Time (UTC+2) | Deep-dive parallel technical sessions | ||
| Sheikh Zayed Centre, ground floor | Green Room, A122 | Iran Room, B116Bis | |
| 09.00–10.30 | Smart cropping systems for resource‑efficient production | Resource stewardship and efficiency in smart farming systems | Smart livestock systems |
| 10.30–11.00 | Break | ||
| 11.00–12.30 | Smart fisheries and aquaculture | Smart forestry systems | Smart farming for food safety |
| 12.30–14.00 | Side event: Urban smart farming Sheikh Zayed Centre | ||
| 14.00–15.30 | Enabling smart farming systems through digital innovation | Building climate‑resilient agrifood systems through smart farming and technology solutions | Business and investment models to scale smart farming for sustainable agrifood systems |
| 15.30–16.00 | Break | ||
| 16.00–17.30 | Plenary session: Youth and women in smart farming systems Sheikh Zayed Centre | ||
| Time (UTC+2) | Sessions |
| 09.00–10.40 | Plenary session: Scaling smart farming systems – investment and partnership Plenary Hall |
| 10.40–11.00 | Break |
| 11.00–13.30 | Conference take-away messages Closing ceremony Plenary Hall |
Register here to attend in person or online ›