Inclusive innovation takes centre stage at Science and Innovation Forum 2024

The Science and Innovation Forum (SIF 2024), a key pillar of the World Food Forum 2024 alongside the Global Youth Forum and the Investment Forum, concluded its three-day discussions at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The event focused on making advanced technologies accessible to small-scale producers.
Held under the theme “Inclusive Science and Innovation for Agrifood Systems Transformation, Leaving No One Behind,” the third edition of SIF brought together a diverse group of participants. These included prominent scientists, innovation experts, policymakers, small-scale producers, indigenous people, women, youth, and the private sector. The forum aimed to foster a wide range of perspectives rooted in scientific evidence.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu emphasised in his opening address, “Science, technology, and innovation are key accelerators of agrifood systems transformation, but they must be inclusive to ensure that the transition is just and equitable.”
As agrifood systems worldwide confront challenges like the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, resource degradation, population growth, and shifting diets, new technologies hold significant potential for creating solutions. However, these innovations must have a broad impact, ensuring that everyone benefits equitably and sustainably.
The forum encouraged inclusive discussions and demonstrated how science and innovation can transform agrifood systems. During the closing session, Costa Rica’s Agricultural Minister, Victor Carvajal Porras, shared real-world examples of how inclusive agrifood innovations positively impacted his country.
The forum opened with a session dedicated to gene editing technologies. Participants explored the benefits, adoption, and diffusion of these technologies while discussing their risks for small-scale producers and the related regulatory and policy considerations.
Research indicates that gene editing can enhance precision in breeding methods, leading to the rapid development of improved plant varieties and animal breeds. This technology has the potential to produce crops and livestock that are more resistant to pests and diseases and better adapted to climate change. Examples of gene-edited products include vitamin A-enriched bananas, hypoallergenic milk, gluten-free wheat, disease-resistant salmon, drought-resistant grapevines, and cacao with fungal disease resistance.
Source: Agriculturepost