Innovation is key
04/03/2021
Innovation holds the potential to unlock employment opportunities, empower youth and women to access information, technology and markets, and scale up new solutions to global challenges to food and agriculture.
FAO assists member countries in unlocking the potential of innovation to drive socio-economic growth, ensure food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty and improve resilience to climate change, thereby helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Because innovation is a complex process where governments and other key stakeholders play different roles, FAO focuses on a system-wide approach.
Emerging opportunities for the application of blockchain in the agri-food industry
Revised version
This paper explores the potential benefits of Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLTs) in improving data transparency and efficiency while highlighting existing technical and institutional constraints for the creation of data protection standards.
Agriculture 4.0 – Agricultural robotics and automated equipment for sustainable crop production
This report presents and reflects on new technological developments related to automation and precision agriculture in developing countries. Its focus is on the application of robotics in agricultural mechanization for crop production.
Developing capacities for agricultural innovation systems
Lessons from implementing a common framework in eight countries
This document presents a transversal analysis of the application of the Tropical Agriculture Framework across eight pilot countries. The findings indicate that the level and progress of implementation depend on the country’s resource allocation and innovation capacity.
E-agriculture in action
Case studies on the innovative use of emerging technologies, such as 3D food printing, electronic traceability services, and multiparameter monitors for indoor air quality, to improve the livelihoods of farming communities.
E-agriculture in action: Drones for agriculture
This book promotes replicable ICT solutions for agriculture, focusing on unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, and their usage in crop production, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, forestry, fisheries, and wildlife conservation.
Further reading
- Digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas
status report - The potential of agroecology to build climate-resilient livelihoods and food systems
- Good beekeeping practices
practical manual on how to identify and control the main diseases of the honeybee (apis mellifera) - Building agricultural market information systems
- Hire services as a business enterprise: A training manual for small-scale mechanization service providers
- Innovative markets for sustainable agriculture: How innovations in market institutions encourage sustainable agriculture in developing countries
- Success stories on information and communication technologies for agriculture and rural development (second edition)
- An innovation in agricultural science and technology extension system
- Innovation for sustainable food and agriculture. Global Knowledge Product
- Transforming agricultural research and extension systems. Unlocking the potential of agricultural innovation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
- Proceedings of the International Symposium on Agricultural Innovation for Family Farmers
- Unlocking the potential of agriculture innovation for family farmers: A thematic catalogue of successful innovations
- Gender and ICTs
- From space to farm: Characterization of small farms using remote sensing data
- Applying blockchain for climate action in agriculture. State of play and outlook
For more publications on these topics, please check the FAO publications catalogue.
Additional resources
