FAO director highlights transformative potential of artificial intelligence in agriculture

In a speech at the G7 Business Federations (B7) meeting, What Dongyu (pictured), director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), highlighted the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming global agri-food systems. Speaking at the headquarters of Confindustria, Italy's leading business association, Qu emphasized the urgent need to ensure that the digital revolution benefits everyone and contributes to solving global challenges.

Qu highlighted that AI is not just a technological advance, but a driver of fundamental economic and social transformations. He highlighted that FAO recognizes the potential of AI to bring broad benefits, increasing efficiency and sustainability across multiple populations.

“Digital agriculture can revolutionize the way we produce, distribute and consume food,” said Qu. He detailed the numerous benefits for farmers and stakeholders, including access to improved price data, reduced food losses and waste, improved food security and adoption of higher quality seeds, fertilizers and sustainable practices.

The event, which was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Antonio Tajani, and numerous CEOs of international private companies, also had the participation of Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD ). The session was focused on charting new paths for global cross-border cooperation.

FAO's strategy involves close collaboration with governments, academia, the private sector, civil society and international organizations. Qu advocated a robust, targeted and coherent approach to implementing these innovations, ensuring adherence to ethical principles.

Qu highlighted the centrality of data quality in AI and digital technologies. He noted that quality data is needed to train innovative tools and accelerate actions such as the transformation of agri-food systems. FAO has a formidable database at FAOSTAT, with core data in the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and an innovation lab to experiment with new sources and methods. One lesson from these initiatives is that data ecosystems require significant investment and effective collaboration. FAO stands ready to engage and partner with the B7 group and the private sector in this area, Qu said.

Another absolutely critical area for collaboration and harmonization of approaches is the energy sector. Decarbonization by 2050 is “simply impossible” without addressing energy consumption in agri-food systems, said the director general.

Qu also urged private sector actors to increase their ambition for climate action and to show more responsibility towards their supply chains and the communities in the countries from which they source, buy and sell their products.