Rome - The rise in nitrogen fertilizers over the past century has significantly contributed to enhancing agricultural production and bolstering food security and nutrition for an expanding global population. Nevertheless, improper use of nitrogen can severely damage air, water, and soil quality, result in biodiversity loss, and exacerbate climate change.

Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Rwanda have emerged as winners in the FAO Global Innovation Challenge on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) through Farmer Field Schools (FFS). These countries' groundbreaking proposals aim to address mechanization challenges faced by smallholder farmers, focusing on increasing productivity, reducing labor burdens, and improving livelihoods. Each will receive a grant of USD 200,000 to bring their plans to life.

Geneva – A groundbreaking new study, “Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030”, published today in Nature Food, presents the first comprehensive analysis of change since 2000 in key food system indicators.

Director-General visited farms with innovative agricultural practices, agriculture enterprises, as well as key research institutions, with the objective of strengthening partnerships and support knowledge sharing and exchanges with FAO Members to support the transformation of agrifood systems and ensure the Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO has been strengthening the link between science, research, and development by advancing practical tools and policy guidance designed to make a real difference on the ground.
Conflicts, climate crisis, economic strife, and a growing global population are all placing enormous pressure on our agrifood systems, which urgently need to be transformed to ensure they are more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable.
In this regard, science and innovation provide the solutions to address these challenges.

Rome – Freza Nanotech Limited, a startup from Uganda, has won the 2024 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Innovation Award for developing a groundbreaking nanotechnology-based solution that extends the shelf life of fruits and reduces postharvest losses. The award ceremony took place today at FAO’s headquarters in Rome, on the sidelines of the 176th Session of the FAO Council.

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today celebrated the 60-year partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by underscoring the remarkable advancements achieved by this unique collaboration within the UN syst...

Vienna – The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today celebrated the 60-year partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by underscoring the remarkable advancements achieved by this unique collaboration within the UN system in helping countries produce more with less.

FAO has established a robust partnership to foster agricultural innovation and improve productivity in the region. The delegation also visited Dimitra Clubs – a FAO pivotal initiative that empowers rural populations, in particular women and children, to bring about changes in their communities.

Vienna – The enhanced capacity and expanded applications of nuclear technologies are helping scientists worldwide increase production and ensure sufficient, nutritious food for all, said Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), today.

FAO supports the transition to sustainable agrifood system through the Global Innovation Challenge on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (SAM) and Farmer Field Schools (FFS). As part of this initiative, a three-day Bootcamp is currently underway in Rome, from 12-14 November 2024, bringing together representatives from FAO country offices, government bodies, and non-state actors.

Revolutionizing Agrifood Systems and Fast-Tracking the SDGs with FAO’s Innovation Leap

The Acceleration Zone is set to revolutionize how teams within the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) collaborate and innovate. Serving as both a physical and virtual space, it of...

Rome – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, today addressed global experts at the UN Digital and Technology Network Meeting, emphasizing the crucial role of digital transformation in tackling the world’s most pressing challenges, including food insecurity and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Call for Innovations, Solutions, and Best Practices to enrich the Green Practices Repository on the Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture.

A refined study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) involving 156 countries confirms that hidden costs within global agrifood systems amount to approximately $12 trillion annually. 

A major challenge facing many low- and middle-income countries is that agriculture is not viewed as a realistic career path for young people. Youth unemployment in such countries is often high. However, opportunities exist for transforming agrifood systems that take advantage of the numerous benefits offered by innovative mechanization and digitalization technologies.

A project in Barbados is changing the way locals see and use an abundant resource whose value was unknown to them in the past.

Des Moines, Iowa – Breakthroughs in genetic science have brought the world to “the dawn of a new era” and can propel solutions to a spectrum of inter-related global challenges including assuring food security, tackling the climate crisis and protecting biodiversity, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOI), said today at the Borlaug International Dialogue of the World Food Prize 2024 opening ceremony.

Science and Innovation Forum discusses how to make cutting-edge technology available to all farmers

The theme of the forum’s third edition is Inclusive Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation, Leaving No One Behind