Science, Technology and Innovation

Publications

Highlights
10/2022

The Strategy aims to strengthen FAO’s work on science and innovation by providing Organization-wide guidance, coherence and alignment on science and innovation. Science and innovation serve as a foundation for the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 and have cross-sectoral relevance across the Organization’s programme of work.

S&I Action Plan_EN
10/2023

The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy Action Plan (2022-25) provides a common framework for FAO action at the country, sub-regional, regional and global levels. The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy is a tool to support the delivery of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 and hence the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategy’s Action Plan is a living document covering four years (2022–25), and it will be updated, as needed, to reflect new needs, opportunities and challenges.

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Publications
National-level models to support the use of evidence in agrifood systems policy
02/2024

This background paper to the guidance that FAO is developing on strengthening science–policy interfaces at the national level sets out to provide an...

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Publications
FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2023: Science and innovation for climate action - Summary report
12/2023

This comprehensive report provides an overview of the objectives, speakers, and outcomes of each session of the second edition of the FAO Science and...

S&I Action Plan_EN
Publications
The Action Plan 2022–2025 for the implementation of the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy
10/2023

The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy Action Plan (2022-25) provides a common framework for FAO action at the country, sub-regional, regional and...

Publications
Using artificial intelligence to assess FAO’s knowledge base on the technology accelerator
09/2023

This report examines the technology accelerator trends across publicly available FAO knowledge reports, technical guidance and convening summaries.

Publications
FAO Science and Innovation Strategy
10/2022

The Strategy aims to strengthen FAO’s work on science and innovation by providing Organization-wide guidance, coherence and alignment on science and...

Publications
Small-scale producers in sustainable agrifood systems transformation
09/2022

If the world is to transition towards agrifood systems that are more sustainable and equitable, small-scale production systems will be key to progress.

Publications
Transforming Food Systems: Pathways for Country-led Innovation
01/2022

The need to urgently transition food systems to net-zero, nature-positive that can nourish all people, leaving no one behind is more critical than ever....


11/2024

Uncovering the true cost of food is the first step in making agrifood systems more inclusive, resilient and sustainable. As The State of Food and Agriculture 2023 revealed, agrifood systems activities generate significant benefits for society, but also have negative impacts on economic, social and environmental sustainability.

11/2024

In response to the pressing need for innovative solutions to address food security challenges, a Tripartite Cooperation Agreement between FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa region, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) initiated a comprehensive “Mapping exercise of affordable and transferrable food security-related technologies”.

10/2024

The Young Scientists Group (YSG) conducted a comprehensive literature review which highlights various relevant case studies, together with a survey capturing the perspectives and experiences of youth. The results show that, for agrifood systems transformation initiatives, digital technologies provide youth with benefits such as being able to conduct tasks more efficiently, reach wider audiences and form collaborations.

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07/2024

Six years from 2030, hunger and food insecurity trends are not yet moving in the right direction to end hunger and food insecurity (SDG Target 2.1) by 2030. The indicators of progress towards global nutrition targets similarly show that the world is not on track to eliminate all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2).

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07/2024

Amidst the challenges confronting agriculture in Europe and Central Asia, this casebook unfolds the stories of 25 farmers and agripreneurs who have successfully embraced digital technologies. The accounts presented here reveal that, despite the effects of climate change, the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the enduring impact of COVID-19, opportunities for innovation and resilience can still be found.

06/2024

The 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture features the Blue Transformation in action, illustrated by activities and initiatives, led by FAO in collaboration with Members, partners and key stakeholders, to integrate aquatic foods into global food security and sustainability, enhance policy advocacy, scientific research and capacity building, disseminate sustainable practices and technological innovations, and support community involvement.

06/2024

In the current edition of a regular joint bi-yearly report, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP)warn that acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in 18 hunger hotspots, including a total of 17 countries or territories and one regional cluster which comprises 4 countries, during the outlook period from June to October 2024.

05/2024

The rapid and ongoing digital transformation of government, economic, and social sectors holds immense potential to improve outcomes across the SDGs for smallholder farmers and rural communities more generally. However, it is also widely recognized that digitalization alone does not guarantee inclusion. Rural residents and marginalized groups have the most to gain from digitalization but are also the most at risk of falling further behind due to digital divides.

04/2024

The Global Report on Food Crises 2024 provides analysis and evidence on acute food insecurity and malnutrition in countries/territories identified as being in food crisis in 2023. It is a document of reference that consolidates data from various sources using rigorous methodologies and a transparent and consultative multi-agency process.

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03/2024

This background paper to the guidance that FAO is developing on strengthening science–policy interfaces (SPIs) for agrifood systems at the national level sets provides information about the structures and patterns common to global SPIs.

03/2024

This report assembles an impressive set of data from 24 low- and middle-income countries in five world regions to measure the effects of climate change on rural women, youths and people living in poverty. It analyses socioeconomic data collected from 109 341 rural households (representing over 950 million rural people) in these 24 countries.

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02/2024

Rural producers frequently handle many products such as different varieties of crops, livestock and/or fisheries, and have little access to integrated services for innovation (ISI). They are a part of complex and dynamic agrifood systems, but often remain marginalized within these systems, having no power to voice their demands and truly benefit from them.

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02/2024

This background paper to the guidance that FAO is developing on strengthening science–policy interfaces at the national level sets out to provide an overview of existing models and activities used for developing and operating science–policy systems and supporting the use of evidence, to transform global agrifood systems.

01/2024

The study is a result of the growing interest on the part of FAO on the analysis and use of financial technology (fintech) applications as effective enablers of financial inclusion for smallholder farmers, as well as that of other financially underserved actors active in the agricultural value chains of developing and emerging countries.

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01/2024

This study used a water–energy–food system-of-systems assessment to evaluate the sustainability of the Mediterranean diet in Lebanon.

12/2023

Well-funded agricultural research and development (R&D) systems play an important role in transforming agrifood systems and helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The advantages of investing in agricultural R&D are also clear from looking at the past, where a wide range of studies have clearly demonstrated the substantial benefits that resulted from investments in agricultural R&D.

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12/2023

This comprehensive report provides an overview of the objectives, speakers, and outcomes of each session of the second edition of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum (SIF) 2023. The SIF, a pivotal component of the annual flagship World Food Forum, unfolded from 18 to 20 October 2023 at FAO headquarters.