Why innovation sometimes fails us and how we can fix it

Innovation is one of humanity’s most powerful tools. It has transformed how we grow food, connect with one another, and respond to challenges. But innovation does not always live up to its promise. Sometimes, good ideas fail to take root. Sometimes, new technologies bring unintended consequences. Understanding why this happens ,and how we can do better, is essential for shaping the future of agrifood systems.

We live in a time of rapid change. New technologies are emerging faster than ever, from artificial intelligence to biotechnology. These tools hold great potential to improve production, enhance resilience, and open new opportunities for rural communities. Yet progress is not automatic. Technology is only as effective as the systems and societies that adopt it.

History reminds us that even the most celebrated inventions take time to deliver their full benefits. Computers, for instance, were widely available for decades before their true impact on productivity could be measured. Artificial intelligence may follow the same path: widely discussed today, but with its real value still unfolding. In other cases, innovations have proven harmful once in use. Some chemicals developed for everyday products later turned out to have damaging effects. These examples underline the need to ensure that innovation is guided by knowledge, foresight, and safeguards.

What makes the difference is not invention alone, but trust and adoption. A new seed variety or digital tool matters little if farmers cannot access it, if communities do not understand it, or if there is no enabling environment to support its use. Real innovation is not just about what is created in a laboratory. It is about what people can adapt, trust, and embed in their daily lives.

Examples of this are found everywhere. In several countries, black soldier flies are being used to convert food waste into protein-rich feed. In others, drones are helping to monitor animal health, identifying risks before they spread. Women entrepreneurs in Cabo Verde are turning discarded fish skins into new products and livelihoods. These approaches may not all be high-tech, but they are practical, resource-efficient, and deeply connected to local realities.

Innovation is everywhere. In Zimbabwe, Professor Musundire, Chinhoyi University of Technology lecturer, holds out a try of fish meal made from the black soldier fly larvae. ©FAO/Zinyange Auntony

The challenge is not only to generate new ideas but to make them last. Many promising innovations remain small-scale because they are not designed with end-users in mind, or because policies and institutions are not in place to help them expand. Sustainable change requires building trust, changing behaviors, and ensuring that innovations are rooted in the communities they are meant to serve.

This is also where collaboration between public and private actors is vital. Public institutions bring reach, legitimacy, and long-term commitment. The private sector brings speed, investment, and agility. Together, they can ensure that innovation serves broader goals. Indeed, many of today’s most widely used technologies, such as the internet and GPS, were possible only because of sustained public research working hand in hand with private enterprises.

Rules and governance also have an important role to play. Without thoughtful guardrails, innovation can move faster than our ability to manage its effects. Striking the right balance of  supporting creativity while ensuring safety and equity is a continuing challenge.

Perhaps most importantly, innovation cannot thrive in isolation. Across the world, researchers, farmers, businesses, and communities are working on similar challenges, often without connection. Linking these efforts, sharing lessons, and avoiding duplication are just as important as new discoveries.

Change often feels slow, but momentum builds over time. What seems marginal today can become mainstream tomorrow. At FAO, Farmer Field Schools are an example of this shift. What began as a small-scale approach has grown into a global platform, now integrating digital tools, behavioral science, and community networks, with the ambition to reach 50 million people by 2040. When innovations are supported by systems that learn and adapt, their impact multiplies.

Innovation has not failed us. But to unlock its full potential, we need to think differently about what innovation means and how it is used. It is not only about inventing new tools. It is about ensuring that those tools are trusted, accessible, and part of broader efforts to make agrifood systems more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.

The future will not be shaped by technology alone, but by how well we align innovation with the needs of people and the planet’s resources. That work is already underway. The question is whether we can accelerate it, together.

Learn more

FAO & Innovation

FAO & Science, Technology and Innovation

Vincent Martin is Director of the Office of Innovation at FAO