The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, emphasized the profound impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies on the global agrifood systems during the Business Federations of the G7 (B7) meeting in Rome. Speaking at Italy’s main business association, Confindustria, Qu underscored the urgency of ensuring these technological advancements benefit everyone and address global challenges.
Economic and Social Transformation
Qu highlighted that AI is not merely a technological shift but a driver of fundamental economic and social changes. He noted that the FAO recognizes AI‘s potential to deliver significant benefits to diverse populations by enhancing efficiency and sustainability in agrifood systems. “Digital agriculture can revolutionize how we produce, distribute, and consume food,” Qu said, pointing out the potential advantages for farmers and stakeholders. These benefits include improved pricing data, reduced food loss and waste, enhanced food safety, and the adoption of superior seeds, fertilizers, and sustainable practices.
Global Collaboration and Ethical Strategies
During a session on cross-border global cooperation, Qu was joined by Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The FAO Director-General stressed the importance of broadening the positive impact of digital innovations through collaboration with governments, academia, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations. He advocated for robust, targeted, coherent, and comprehensive strategies and actions, ensuring compliance with ethical principles.
The Role of Data in Agrifood Systems
Qu emphasized the critical role of data in leveraging AI and digital technologies. He stated that high-quality data is essential for training innovative tools and accelerating actions towards agrifood systems transformation. FAO’s extensive database, FAOSTAT, and its innovation lab, which experiments with new data sources and methods, highlight the importance of significant investment and effective collaboration in data ecosystems. Qu expressed FAO’s readiness to partner with the B7 group and the private sector in this area.
Energy, Climate, and Sustainability
Addressing the energy sector’s importance, Qu declared that achieving decarbonization by 2050 is impossible without addressing energy consumption across agrifood systems. He urged private-sector actors to increase their climate action ambitions and show greater accountability towards their supply chains and the communities in their operational regions.
