Science and Innovation Forum 2026 Programme
MONDAY | 12 OCTOBER
Time (CEST)
Session title, location, detailed programme, webcast link
09.00 - 11.30
Clean cooking as an energy-smart agrifood system solution to improve food security
Jointly organized by FAO and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
location: FAO FoodS Lab, SIF 2026 Exhibition
11.30 - 12.30
12.00 - 14.00
Act Local, Think Global: Innovating Today to End Urban Food Poverty
Location: Foods Lab, SIF 2026 Exhibition
14.00 - 16.00
World Food Forum Grand Opening
location: Plenary Hall (A-335 INT)
Interpretation available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
TUESDAY | 13 OCTOBER
14.00 - 16.00
Science and Innovation Forum Opening
Accelerating science and innovation for food security impacts
location: Plenary Hall (A-335 INT)
Interpretation available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
16.00 - 16.30 Coffee break
16.30 - 18.00
Seeds of trust: rethinking science communication for food security
location: Plenary Hall (A-335 INT)
Interpretation available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
WEDNESDAY | 14 OCTOBER
8.00 - 8.30 Breakfast
8.30 - 10.00
Lost in translation? Strengthening science–policy interfaces for evidence-informed decision-making
location: Green Room (A-127 bis)
From field to future: reimagining agricultural extension for smallholder food security
location: Red Room (A-121 INT)
10.30 - 12.00
12.30 - 13.30
Young Scientists Group: Young women navigating agrifood systems in conflict settings
location: Green Room (A-127 bis)
Launch of the fifth round of the Accelerator Mentorship Programme for Women-led SMEs in Africa
location: Red Room (A-121 INT)
14.00 - 16.00
Startup Innovation Awards finals: accelerating innovation, scaling impact
location: Sheikh Zayed Centre (Ground Floor)
17.00 - 18.30
Growing the future: botanic gardens as agrifood allies
location: Plenary Hall (A-335 INT)
THURSDAY | 15 OCTOBER
9.00 - 10.30
Drowning in data, starving for evidence-informed decisions: what futures for scientific evidence synthesis?
Location: Green Room (A-127 bis)
Resilience to disasters & pandemics: What can a One Health approach deliver
location: Red Room (A-121 INT)
10.30 - 11.00 Coffee break
11.00 - 12.30
Broken by design? Rewiring investment and partnership models for research and innovation
location: Green Room (A-127 bis)
Women farmers in the digital age: from access to agency
location: Iran Room (B-116 bis)
12.40 - 14.00
From forecast to action: leveraging science and innovation to reduce climate risks for agriculture and food security
location: Iran Room (B-116 bis)
14.00 - 15.30
Towards water-efficient agrifood systems that deliver food security for all
location: Green Room (A-127 bis)
How can entrepreneurship accelerate food security progress?
location Red Room: (A-121 INT)
15.30 - 16.00 coffee break
16.00 - 17.30
Tipping points, cascading risks, and limits to adaptation for agrifood systems and food security
location Green Room (A-127 bis)
17.30 - 19.00
Science with ambition: accelerating early career impact on Food security
location: Acceleration Zone (D085)
FRIDAY 16 OCTOBER
9.00 - 10.00
10.00 - 12.00
World Food Day Ceremony
location: Plenary Hall (A-335 INT)
14.00 - 17.00
World Food Forum Closing Ceremony
location: Plenary Hall (A-335 INT)