FAO and CNR-ISTI Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Digital Innovation for Sustainable Fisheries

Rome, 21 November 2025 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell’Informazione “A. Faedo” (CNR-ISTI) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in a move that strengthens their collaboration leveraging digital technologies and data-driven solutions for the sustainable management of marine living resources.

The five-year agreement represents the next phase of a successful partnership between the two entities, which concluded in 2024. Aligning with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–31 and the Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022-2030, the new collaboration aims to strengthen efforts in capacity development, knowledge transfer and innovation, to support the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Efforts will focus on strengthening and expanding use of the iMarine platform, which is powered by D4Science infrastructure. This includes integrating and coordinating work to deliver innovative, cost-efficient and cross-disciplinary data services that support the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture. The partnership will also promote development and dissemination of tools and initiatives that foster the sustainable use of marine living resources. These joint efforts will leverage advanced technologies – including machine learning and artificial intelligence – to enhance data analytics and improve decision-making for global fisheries management.

The collaboration will contribute to SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), while reinforcing FAO’s four betters approach – better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life.

FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Manuel Barange, emphasized: “This partnership with CNR-ISTI exemplifies how science and technology can drive transformative change in fisheries and aquaculture. By combining FAO’s global mandate with CNR-ISTI’s expertise in ICT and data infrastructures, we can accelerate innovation for sustainable marine resource management.”

Director of CNR-ISTI, Dr Roberto Scopigno, added that “Our collaboration with FAO leverages cutting-edge digital platforms and AI-driven solutions to address complex challenges in marine ecosystems. Together, we aim to deliver impactful tools and services that would benefit global communities and support the achievement of the SDG goals.”

The partnership workplan for 2025–2030 outlines concrete opportunities for collaboration, including training on data management and interoperability standards, disseminating key data products such as the Global Record of Stocks and Fisheries, developing new Virtual Research Environments (VREs) and data services, and conducting joint research and publications on innovative applications for fisheries.