en.Wedoany.com Reported - Recently, the inaugural Global Smart Agriculture Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held in Rome. Under the theme "Leveraging Data Technology to Promote Sustainable Development of Agrifood Systems," representatives from various parties discussed pathways for smart agricultural development.
In his opening remarks, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu pointed out that smart agriculture is a crucial lever for achieving the goal of "low input, high output, and reduced impact," and is also an essential path to enhancing agricultural resilience, promoting rural revitalization, and accelerating the transformation of agrifood systems. Currently, over 670 million people worldwide still suffer from hunger, compounded by frequent extreme weather events, pressure on water and land resources, and fluctuating input prices. Qu Dongyu noted that the production increase model of the past five decades has nearly reached its limits, and traditional approaches are insufficient to address today's challenges.
Qu Dongyu elaborated on the meaning of "S.M.A.R.T": S stands for Science based, M for Machine learning, A for AI driven, R for Resilience, and T for Transformation of agrifood systems and rural development. He emphasized that the "smart" in smart agriculture lies in making data a new production factor, achieving systemic transformation through science-led, data-driven, and AI-empowered approaches.
Regarding technological applications, Qu Dongyu noted that with the development of big data, artificial intelligence, and digital connectivity technologies, innovations such as precision agriculture, remote sensing big data, and soil databases are transitioning from "individual breakthroughs" to "system integration," forming intelligent decision-making covering the entire production process. Future agricultural competitiveness will increasingly depend on data capabilities.
FAO has developed the Science and Innovation Strategy and the Digital Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence Roadmap, and has successively hosted events such as the Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, the Global Conference on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization, and the International Conference on Agricultural and Food Biotechnology. In 2020, FAO became one of the first signatories of the Rome Call for AI Ethics. Qu Dongyu also delivered a keynote speech at the Pontifical Academy for Life, discussing the impact of artificial intelligence on agrifood systems.
Smart agriculture practices have already yielded results in multiple countries. In Uzbekistan, low-cost smart greenhouse technology has enabled vegetable farmers to significantly reduce water usage while doubling yields, a model now being promoted in countries such as Honduras and Zambia.
Qu Dongyu emphasized that for smart agriculture to achieve large-scale development, it must adhere to principles of inclusiveness and people-centeredness, ensuring that smallholder farmers gain access to digital skills, financial support, and market resources. At the same time, smart agriculture must be rooted in scientific agronomic practices, integrating local knowledge and traditional experience.
At the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Iraqi Minister of Agriculture Abbas Jabr Al-Maliki, Yemeni Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Fisheries Salem Al-Soqatri, and Somali Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mohamed Abdi Ige. UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Water Retno Marsudi and Uzbek Minister of Agriculture Aziz Voitov sent video messages. Senior officials from countries including Brazil and Indonesia shared practical experiences. FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa and world-renowned chef Binta also shared how technology, traditional knowledge, and women's empowerment are transforming agriculture.
The three-day conference featured exchanges on topics such as precision livestock farming, smart crop cultivation, digital governance, youth and women's innovation industries, and investment cooperation. Concurrently, the Global Smart Agriculture Innovation Exhibition was held, with 29 participating institutions and enterprises showcasing applications in digital agriculture, smart greenhouses, precision agriculture, and agricultural robots. The FAO Food and Agriculture Museum and the online FoodLab also launched interactive displays.
