Building a Future-Ready Innovation Ecosystem: Unlocking Technology’s Potential in Agrifood Systems
The Building a Future-Ready Innovation Ecosystem panel, held at the CGIAR Pavilion during COP29 in Baku, brought together experts from across the agrifood and tech sectors to explore how cutting-edge advancements like artificial intelligence can address critical challenges in food systems while enhancing climate resilience. This session described the importance of crafting innovation ecosystems rooted in demand-driven solutions, robust research and development, inclusive partnerships, and scalable investment strategies.
A key highlight of the panel was the Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs, which spotlighted the transformative power of initiatives like Reboot the Earth, represented by Mohammed Langston from the FAO Office of Climate Change. This youth-centered program proved that youth innovations can tackle challenges in agrifood systems and climate adaptation, ensuring that the next generation of thinkers and creators are at the forefront of sustainable development. It exemplifies how empowering youth can lead to fresh ideas that bridge the gap between technology and sustainable development.
Adding to the richness of the discussion, Rikin Gandhi, CEO of Digital Green, presented an interesting vision for farmer-centric innovation that his company has been implementing in Ethiopia. Digital Green’s approach positions farmers not just as beneficiaries but as active knowledge providers. Through an open-source video library, farmers can record and share their expertise, enabling peers to learn from their experiences. Powered by generative AI, this system ensures that solutions are customized to farmers’ specific needs, replacing generic chatbot responses with actionable, hyper-local insights. Digital Green is transforming the traditional model of knowledge dissemination in agriculture by placing farmers at the heart of the innovation ecosystem.
The panel also highlighted the transformative potential of open-source platforms in fostering collaboration, accessibility, and localized innovation. Open-source tools democratize access to technology, making it possible for even the most remote communities to benefit from digital advancements. These platforms drive solutions that are both sustainable and resilient to global challenges by empowering farmers and local innovators.
As digital agriculture takes a leading role in addressing food security and environmental challenges, the importance of its presence at COP events like this cannot be overstated. Initiatives like the Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs amplify the collective effort to harness technology for good, uniting stakeholders across sectors to accelerate progress toward a sustainable future.
This panel underscored a key takeaway: building an effective innovation ecosystem requires more than technology—it demands inclusivity, collaboration, and a commitment to putting people, especially farmers, at its heart. As we look to the future, the insights from this discussion offer a roadmap for leveraging digital tools to shape agrifood systems that are adaptive, equitable, and ready for the challenges ahead.