Regional Digital Agriculture Forum for Europe and Central Asia
Enabling artificial intelligence and digital innovation for sustainable agrifood systems
Tiranë (Albania), 02/12/2026 - 03/12/2026
©FAO
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania and the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia are co-organizing the first Regional Digital Agriculture Forum for Europe and Central Asia, under the theme “Enabling artificial intelligence and digital innovation for sustainable agrifood systems”.
Over two days, governments, innovators, farmers and partners will look at what is already working, what is holding progress back, and where cooperation can help solutions reach more farmers.
Important notice
Please note that, in light of the escalating protests in Tirana, the organizers are closely monitoring the situation. The safety and well-being of all participants remain their priority. The organizers are therefore considering rescheduling the Forum, currently planned for 2–3 December 2026, to a suitable date in 2027.
Two days at a glance
Countries across the region are advancing digital agriculture along different pathways, from EU approximation to regional integration frameworks, while facing largely the same choices on standards, interoperability and data. The Forum is organized around four half-day segments:
Day 1, morning – 2 December
High-level opening: vision and leadership
The Forum opens at the highest level. Ministers, FAO leadership and development partners set out a shared regional vision for digital agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI).
Read moreOpening remarks and high-level statements are followed by a ministerial dialogue and a high-level panel. Government, industry and farmers discuss what it takes to make AI and digital innovation work in agriculture.
The morning frames the technical discussions of the following day and a half, and reaffirms the region’s shared interest in an inclusive digital transformation of agrifood systems.
Day 1, afternoon – 2 December
Foundations: the enabling environment for digital agriculture
Whether digital tools, including AI, reach farmers and stay in use depends on four foundations: connectivity, policy, skills and an innovation ecosystem. This afternoon takes stock of each.
Read moreA short framing presentation shows how the four foundations depend on one another. Technical sessions then cover connectivity, human capital and the innovation ecosystem. A closing plenary turns to policy and governance, including how countries are preparing to regulate the use of AI in agriculture.
Participants leave with a shared picture of where countries stand, practical examples of what works, and a first view of where regional cooperation or shared standards could add value.
Day 2, morning – 3 December
Digital public infrastructure for agriculture: digitalizing data, government systems and public services
How can governments build the data and systems that deliver digital services farmers actually use? Countries share experience on registries, traceability systems, monitoring platforms and more.
Read moreThis segment takes stock of where countries stand in building digital public infrastructure for agriculture, from farm and land registries to digital subsidy platforms and traceability systems. It covers data governance, system design and interoperability, and what makes public services work for farmers, especially smallholders, rural women and youth.
It also looks at emerging uses of AI in public service delivery, and the conditions for using it responsibly.
Presentations, panels and facilitated country exchanges let participants compare approaches and learn from each other’s experience.
Day 2, afternoon – 3 December
Technologies that reach farmers: from the field to markets and finance
Innovators, farmers, investors and policymakers meet to look at solutions already in use, and at what helps them reach farmers at scale.
Read moreThe closing segment focuses on innovation on the ground: smart farming, access to markets, digital and AI-enabled advisory services, and access to finance. It asks what is needed, in finance, partnerships and enabling conditions, for promising solutions to reach more farmers.
Inclusion runs throughout. How can these innovations benefit smallholders, women and youth without creating new exclusion for people with limited connectivity, digital skills or access to devices?
Sessions combine panels with live showcases and start-up pitches, linked to the Field to Future exhibition. The Forum then closes with a wrap-up of the main conclusions and next steps.
For a full overview, please refer to the concept note.
Provisional agenda
All timings and sessions are indicative and subject to change.
| 09:15 – 09:45 | Opening ceremonyH.E. Albana Koçiu, Deputy Prime Minister of AlbaniaMr Maurizio Martina, Deputy Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) |
|---|---|
| 09:45 – 10:10 | High-level messagesBrief remarks from institutions and organizations supporting the Forum |
| 10:10 – 10:20 | Setting the stageDigital agriculture in Europe and Central Asia, today and tomorrowOverview of progress and gaps across the region, with a forward look at emerging technologies, including AI |
| 10:20 – 11:00 | Ministerial dialogueA regional vision for AI-enabled agrifood systemsMinisters in structured dialogue on AI-enabled agricultural governance and agrifood systems digitalization |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee break and Field to Future exhibition opening |
| 11:30 – 12:20 | High-level panelGovernment, industry and farmers: who makes AI and digital innovation work in agricultureModerated discussion with industry voices, farmers, and the government |
| 12:20 – 12:45 | ClosingHigh-level segmentMinisters signal shared commitment to the Forum’s objectives |
| 12:45 – 13:00 | Official photo |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Buffet lunch at the venue – Field to Future exhibition |
| 14:00 – 15:30 | 14:00 – 14:30PlenarySetting the scene: creating an enabling environment for digital agriculture 14:30 – 15:30PlenaryAre farmers ready for AI? Building the human capital for digital and AI-enabled agrifood systems Closed sessionHigh-Level Ministerial Roundtable: Advancing digital agriculture in Europe and Central AsiaCo-chaired by Maurizio Martina, FAO Deputy Director-General, and Andis Salla, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of AlbaniaBy invitation |
|---|---|
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee break – Field to Future exhibition |
| 16:00 – 16:50 | Parallel sessionConnectivity where the farms are: closing the rural digital divide Parallel sessionInnovation ecosystem and its actors that advance digital transformation of agriculture Closed sessionDonor Roundtable: Mobilizing future investments in digital agricultureBy invitation |
| 17:00 – 18:00 | PlenaryPolicies, strategies and governance for digital agriculture |
| From 18:00 | Evening reception with buffet dinner |
| 09:00 – 09:30 | PlenaryDigital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture (DPI-Agri): shared foundations, reusable systems |
|---|---|
| 09:35 – 10:30 | Parallel sessionDigital registries of agricultural producers and holdings for improved policy and services Parallel sessionImproving agricultural land management through geospatial technologies and remote sensing |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee break – Field to Future exhibition |
| 11:00 – 11:55 | Parallel sessionStrengthening food safety through digital technologies and AI Parallel sessionLeveraging digital technologies for enhanced animal health and production |
| 12:00 – 12:55 | PlenaryMonitoring and sustainable management of natural resources, environmental and climate related risks through digital technologies |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Buffet lunch at the venue – Field to Future exhibition |
| 14:00 – 14:40 | PlenaryLandscape of digital innovation in Europe and Central Asia and designing for farmers’ realities through human-centred design |
|---|---|
| 14:45 – 15:40 | Parallel sessionSmart farming: producing more with less to strengthen agricultural resilience Parallel sessionImproved access to markets through digital technologies |
| 15:40 – 16:10 | Coffee break – Field to Future exhibition |
| 16:10 – 17:00 | Parallel sessionDigital and AI-enabled advisory services for farmers Parallel sessionDigital technologies for financing agriculture |
| 17:00 – 17:30 | PlenaryForum closing |
Aim and objectives
The Forum brings together governments, the private sector, innovators and development partners to advance inclusive, AI-enabled digital transformation of agrifood systems across Europe and Central Asia. It aims to:
Advance digital government
Share good practices in digitalizing agricultural e-government systems and public services
Align policies
Dialogue on digital agriculture strategies, data governance, AI ethics and regulatory harmonization
Promote responsible AI
Support the responsible and inclusive adoption of AI across the agrifood sector
Foster regional cooperation
Commitments on agricultural data sharing, cross-border digital platforms and common standards
Strengthen innovation ecosystems
Connect farmers, agritech start-ups, investors and researchers around field-tested solutions
Connect policy and investment
Bring together governments, development finance institutions, donors and the private sector
Who is coming and how to join
A Forum for the wider Europe and Central Asia region
The Forum brings together participants from across Europe and Central Asia, from Western Europe and the European Union to the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Who will participate
- Government delegations: ministers, deputy ministers, senior officials and technical officers from across the region;
- FAO: Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia leadership, and technical specialists;
- Private sector and technology companies: agritech start-ups and corporations specializing in agriculture, AI, satellite, Internet of Things and data analytics;
- Academia and research: agricultural universities, research institutes and innovation hubs;
- Civil society and farmers: farmers’ associations, cooperatives, and rural women’s and youth networks;
- Development partners: partner UN agencies, the European Union, other international partners and international financial institutions; and
- Investors: international financial institutions, agricultural banks, rural finance institutions and impact investors.
How to take part
- Government delegations are invited through official channels
- Exhibitors apply through the open call
- Media can request accreditation (details will follow)
- Online: follow the plenary sessions on the livestream
- Everyone else can register their interest in attending in person. Places are limited and we will confirm your participation by email
Open call for exhibitors
Working on a digital or AI solution that tackles the challenges of agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia?
Show it in action at the Forum’s two-day Field to Future exhibition.
Link coming soon…
Speakers
Co-organizers
Documents
Join the event
News and media
Venue
Tirana, Albania
The exact venue will be shared with registered participants.
Languages
English, with simultaneous interpretation in Russian.
Interpretation into Albanian is provided for the opening morning.
Watch online
Times are in Tirana time (UTC+1). Streams open on YouTube.