Digital pathways for agrifood systems transformation – Connecting policies, technological solutions and local innovation

Across Europe and Central Asia, agrifood systems are facing pressing challenges and shifts, including rising production costs, climate variability, fragmented value chains, labour shortages and limited access to timely information and advisory services. At the same time, advances in digital technologies are creating unprecedented opportunities to enhance productivity, improve resilience, increase efficiency and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Despite its potential, the uptake of digital technologies in the agrifood sector remains uneven across countries and population groups in the region. Barriers include limited digital infrastructure, low digital literacy, weak data governance, affordability constraints and fragmented innovation ecosystems. Moreover, smallholder farmers, women, youth and marginalized communities risk being further left behind without targeted policy and investment action.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports its Members in harnessing the potential of digital technologies for agrifood systems transformation by providing technical assistance in shaping national digital strategies, advancing e-government systems for agriculture, digitalizing public services, supporting local innovation and adoption of digital tools in rural areas, and monitoring digital developments via its AgriTech Observatory.

These efforts aim to create systems in which farmers, institutions and private-sector innovators can adopt and scale digital technologies that contribute to a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood sector.

Agenda

Webcast