Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

The agricultural sector will face enormous challenges to feed the projected 9.6 billion people who will inhabit the planet by 2050. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe economic and social distress around the world, triggering several negative impacts on agri-food systems. However, e-commerce entered the outbreak period ahead of time, especially in the agri-food sector, and with the new opportunities it creates, it is considered a potential solution to this difficult situation.

To continue its active work in promoting digitilization of the agricultural sector, FAO, in close collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Zhejiang University (ZJU), participates in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum. 

Following WSIS Action Line C7 on eAgriculture that focuses on using ICT applications for e-agriculture, the jointly organized webinar "E-commerce for agriculture and rural development" will aim at enhancing knowledge and exchanging experiences, involving a wide range of experts from various organisations, institutions, academia, and private sector businesses, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Alibaba, and African young e-commerce entrepreneurs.

During the event, the Digital Agriculture Flagship Report will be presented, which is based on experiences with successful business models and on results of technology applications in the field of rural e-commerce in China. 

The webinar takes place on Friday, 7 May 2021, 15:00–16:00 (CEST).

For more information on this event and to register, please click here. 

The technical webinar "Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems" is part of the series organised by the FAO elearning Academy, Agreenium (l'Institut agronomique, vétérinaire et forestier de France) and UN-ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific). 

The webinar aims to: 1) provide an overview of the existing resources on the formulation of nutrition-sensitive outcomes for sustainable food system policies, investments and programmes; 2) promote an understanding of current country needs to prioritize interventions, and 3) share the results of national research as evidence of the importance of sustainable nutrition-sensitive food systems.

The webinar will take place on 24 February 2021, 15:00-16:30 CET.

Please register here to participate in the event.

Since 2018, FAO and the Federal Government of Switzerland encourage innovation by publically recognizing best practices through the International Innovation Award for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. The award does not only acknowledge digital innovation, but also new or existing products or practices that are used in a specific context, to increase effectiveness, competitiveness and resilience. The second edition of this Award has been launched, which is open to individuals, private companies and institutions. It comprises two categories:

• Category A awards excellence in digitization and innovation for sustainable food systems (USD 30 000)

• Category B recognises an innovation that empowers youth in sustainable food systems (USD 30 000)

In the spirit of the forthcoming Food Systems’ Summit in 2021 and aligned to the aspirations and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the candidates should demonstrate the important role of their innovation in transforming food systems through sustainable food and agriculture and the improvement of food security and nutrition for all, particularly in the face of increased environmental challenges. In line with the requirements and technical competencies of the Federal Office of Agriculture of Switzerland, all innovations must apply to agriculture and pastoral systems only. 

This call is open until 19 March 2021.

More information on this call and on how to apply can be accessed here. 

The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) is an international conference on central issues of global agricultural and food policies, held in Berlin on an annual basis. The 2021 event will take place virtually on 18–22 January focusing on the topic of how can agriculture provide the world with food in the long-term for a balanced diet despite pandemics and climate change.

As in the past years, FAO will participate in the GFFA at several levels, including the following events:

CFS: Water and climate recommendations to feed the world

18 January 2021, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (CET)

The discussion, organized jointly by FAO and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), will look at water as the primary medium through which we all feel the effects of climate change.

More information

Managing city region food systems – Enhancing strength and resilience against pandemics and climate change

19 January 2021, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (CET)

The joint panel discussion of FAO and the Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and Food Systems, will provide a forum for urban and national representatives to share experiences and review how the City Region Food Systems approach has helped them deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to define a vision on the way forward.

More information

How can innovation help strengthen the sustainability of food systems and prevent future pandemics?

19 January 2021, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (CET)

The panel will bring together a group of high-level policy makers, including FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, to discuss the impacts of the pandemic on food and agriculture and the role of innovation in this respect.

More information

Attending these virtual events is free of charge, it only requires prior registration through the GFFA website here.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are accepting submissions on good practices from Europe and Central Asia in digital agriculture. 

This call is the first phase of the regional contest entitled “Digital Excellence in Agriculture in Europe and Central Asia”, aiming at collecting good practices in the field of digital agriculture and providing a mechanism for identifying outstanding initiatives, projects, and programmes across the regions to be awarded with a special recognition of Digital Excellence in Agriculture.  

It will enable individuals and organizations using digital agricultural practices to share knowledge, solutions, and suggestions that highlight the potential of stepping up good practices in the region of Europe and Central Asia.

The regional contest will have six phases:

• Submission of good practices open from 4 November until 11 December 2020;
• Nomination of outstanding practices in January 2021;
• Production of a stocktaking report including all good practices collected;
• Selection of the finalists and award recipients;
• Production of a special promotional video focusing on outstanding good practices, as well as production of the Digital Excellence in Agriculture report;
• Award ceremony where the finalists will receive an opportunity to present their good practices and outstanding achievements during the “Digital Excellence in Agriculture in Europe and Central Asia” event (February-March 2021), and the winners will be awarded with a special recognition and a trophy.

Submissions are accepted in the following categories: 

• Regulatory frameworks/Enhanced market access/Financial services and insurance;
• Capacity development and empowerment;
• Agriculture innovations systems and sustainable farming;
• Disaster risk management and early warning systems;
• Food safety and traceability.

This regional contest follows a joint ITU-FAO Study on the Status of Digital Agriculture in 18 Countries of Europe and Central Asia, that clearly demonstrated how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are playing an emerging role in the agriculture of Europe and Central Asia.

This call will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, in particular, SDG2 on “Zero Hunger”, by contributing to close the digital, rural, and gender disparaties, known as the triple divide, and ensure an inclusive digital transition. The contest is also an important milestone in the implementation of the Regional Initiatives of both, the ITU and FAO. 

For more information, please visit http://www.fao.org/europe/resources/call-on-digital-excellence/en/