FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2026
Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.
12-16 October FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy and online
The fifth edition of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum (SIF 2026) will be held from 12 to 16 October 2026 under the umbrella of the World Food Forum (WFF), together with the Global Youth Forum and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.
This year offers a unique opportunity, as the overarching theme of the World Food Forum, and World Food Day is Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.
This theme reflects the importance of harnessing science, technology and innovation to build agrifood systems that are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. It highlights how forward-thinking on enabling access to life-changing innovations, combined with traditional knowledge and inclusive approaches, is critical to ensure that everyone has access to sufficient, diverse, safe, and nutritious foods, while safeguarding the planet for future generations.
In line with FAO’s 2026–2027 biennial theme, Fostering Innovation for Food Security and anchored in the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy, SIF 2026 will reinforce FAO’s collective and collaborative efforts to transform agrifood systems through science and innovation.
The forum will provide a global platform for structured dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration in support of sustainable and inclusive agrifood system transformation. Bringing together leading scientists, innovators, policymakers, farmers’ organizations, and a broad range of partners, it will explore dynamic approaches to harnessing scientific advances and translating them into actionable knowledge. A central focus will be bridging the gap between global commitments and local action – identifying practical pathways to ensure that international goals are effectively adapted to diverse national contexts and deliver tangible results on the ground.
The Forum will once again welcome a wide audience including those joining online: scientists, policymakers, knowledge holders, academia and research institutions (students and researchers), technical experts, farmers and farmers’ organizations and other agrifood system actors, youth, private sector, UN staff and FAO Members.
Registration is now available here
- Accelerate innovations to achieve food security for all.
- Strengthen the role of science, technology, and innovation in sustainable and inclusive transformation of agrifood systems.
- Highlight the importance of science communication as a strategic tool for shaping policy, investment, and collective action, while strengthening science–policy interface to support more inclusive, evidence-based decision-making.
- Recognise the need to strengthen evidence synthesis through more rigorous and robust approaches to improve quality of research for development and inform actionable policies.
- Address responsible data and AI governance in the transformation of agrifood systems
- Examine tipping points, systemic risks and limits to climate adaptation.
- Implementing One Health in agrifood systems.
- Explore new models for financing agricultural research and innovation. Reinforce the urgent need to increase investment – particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries - as a driver of sustainable and equitable progress.
- Facilitate effective and transformative partnerships that address inequalities and leave no one behind, including with governments, development partners, civil society organizations and the private sector.
The Work We Do Ep 4. Science & Innovation in Agriculture and the Digital Divide
06/05/2026
In this episode of The Work We Do, we sit down with Charles Spillane, Chief Scientist at FAO. Charlie traces how his upbringing on a farm in Ireland and an early interest in science fiction shaped his techno-optimistic worldview and his belief in the power of science and innovation to improve society.
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FAO elearning Academy Global Youth Contest: From learning to impact
A global call for young learners and professionals to share how the FAO elearning Academy supports studies, careers and practice. Three winners will be selected and awarded a fully funded trip to Rome to attend the World Food Forum 2026.
Applications are open until 31 July 2026 (23.59 CEST).