WELCOME to the FAO Science and Innovation Blog, your source for exploring FAO’s work on science and innovation in support of the transformation of global agrifood systems in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During 2025, a series of blogs will delve into the guiding principles of the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy. The guiding principles seek to ensure that FAO’s efforts harness the power of science and innovation to benefit People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership — the five interdependent principles underpinning the 2030 Agenda.
Each blog post will focus on one of the seven guiding principles, offering clear explanations and showcasing real-world examples of their application: Rights-based and people-centered, Gender-equal, Evidence-based, Needs-driven, Sustainability-aligned, Risk-informed and Ethics-based.
The guiding principles are one of the key components of the Strategy, grounding its three pillars and 9 outcomes and provide the foundation for thinking about how to go about implementing it. At the same time, the guiding principles are perhaps the least operative component of the Strategy. To promote a dialogue and increase understanding, the Chief Scientist Office is inviting experts and other knowledge holders from around the world to share their reflections on why the guiding principles are important and what each of the principles implies for FAO’s work.
The content of this blog reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the views or positions of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Blog
Food systems sustainability must be prioritized in all its dimensions
25/07/2025
The use of science and new technologies in food systems dates back at least 10,000 years to the earliest days of agriculture and farmers and communities have long been at the forefront of innovation in the sector.
Blog
Gender Equality, food and nutrition security: What can science and innovation contribute?
04/05/2025
Gender equality and agrifood systems are intertwined, we cannot achieve one without the other. Women need agrifood systems, and agrifood systems need women. Women are agents of change in the agrifood sector.
Blog
Evidence must be fit for purpose to support science and innovation for people and planet
03/06/2025
Continued investment in science, technology and innovation is critical for meeting the challenges of food security and sustainable development and to achieve better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life.
Blog
The Relationship Between the Right to Food and Science and Innovation
21/03/2025
The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy recognizes that science and evidence are essential for sound decision-making while not necessarily providing a singular course of action. To better connect science and innovation to decision-making and guide the FAO’s work, the Strategy identifies the first guiding principle to be a rights-based and people-centered focus, namely using the right to food.
Blog
Ensuring a risk-informed approach to science and innovation
15/09/2025
Science and innovation can help address the complex social, economic and environmental challenges of agrifood systems. Nonetheless, science can be a risky business, with new technologies and innovations potentially posing risks and unintended consequences.