Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation

This brief looks at food system innovations and digital technologies as important drivers of productivity growth and improved food and nutrition security. The analysis emphasizes a mix of research feasibility and technology-enabling factors necessary to realize pro-poor benefits. Given their transfo...

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Main Authors: Benfica, Rui, Chambers, Judith A., Koo, Jawoo, Nin-Pratt, Alejandro, Falck-Zepeda, José B., Stads, Gert-Jan, Arndt, Channing
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142989
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author Benfica, Rui
Chambers, Judith A.
Koo, Jawoo
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Falck-Zepeda, José B.
Stads, Gert-Jan
Arndt, Channing
author_browse Arndt, Channing
Benfica, Rui
Chambers, Judith A.
Falck-Zepeda, José B.
Koo, Jawoo
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Stads, Gert-Jan
author_facet Benfica, Rui
Chambers, Judith A.
Koo, Jawoo
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Falck-Zepeda, José B.
Stads, Gert-Jan
Arndt, Channing
author_sort Benfica, Rui
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This brief looks at food system innovations and digital technologies as important drivers of productivity growth and improved food and nutrition security. The analysis emphasizes a mix of research feasibility and technology-enabling factors necessary to realize pro-poor benefits. Given their transformative potential and the urgency of developing the enabling R&D and trajectories required for impact, we highlight genome editing bio-innovations, specifically CRISPR-Cas9, to address sustainable agricultural growth; and digital technologies, including remote sensing, connected sensors, artificial intelligence, digital advisory services, digital financial services, and e-commerce, to help guide the operations and decision-making of farmers, traders, and policymakers in agricultural value chains. The analysis points to the need to close critical gaps in R&D investments, capabilities, and enabling policies as well as regulations to accelerate the scaling and adoption of innovations. At the global level, the engagement of low- and middle income countries with global players should be facilitated so as to strengthen intellectual property (IP) access and management of innovations; and North– South, South–South, and triangular cooperation should be promoted to strengthen LMICs’ regulatory capabilities. At the national level, countries need to invest in science-based participatory approaches to identify and adapt technologies to local conditions; close regulatory gaps through evidence-based frameworks that enable the rapid development, employment, and safe use of innovations; close institutional and human capacity gaps by addressing limitations in institutional capacities and coordination, while training a new generation of scientists with the skills needed to develop and deliver innovations; develop an understanding of political economy factors for a nuanced knowledge of actors’ agendas to better inform communications and address technology hesitancy; close digital infrastructure gaps in rural areas by promoting simultaneous investments in digital infrastructure and electrification, reducing data costs, and improving digital literacy; and develop sustainable business models for digital service providers to help them achieve profitability, interoperability, and scale to reach a sustainable critical mass, and thus facilitate the adoption of food systems innovations.
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spelling CGSpace1429892025-03-17T20:08:52Z Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation Benfica, Rui Chambers, Judith A. Koo, Jawoo Nin-Pratt, Alejandro Falck-Zepeda, José B. Stads, Gert-Jan Arndt, Channing innovation value chains agricultural bio-innovations agricultural value chains investment technology research agricultural productivity food systems digital technology This brief looks at food system innovations and digital technologies as important drivers of productivity growth and improved food and nutrition security. The analysis emphasizes a mix of research feasibility and technology-enabling factors necessary to realize pro-poor benefits. Given their transformative potential and the urgency of developing the enabling R&D and trajectories required for impact, we highlight genome editing bio-innovations, specifically CRISPR-Cas9, to address sustainable agricultural growth; and digital technologies, including remote sensing, connected sensors, artificial intelligence, digital advisory services, digital financial services, and e-commerce, to help guide the operations and decision-making of farmers, traders, and policymakers in agricultural value chains. The analysis points to the need to close critical gaps in R&D investments, capabilities, and enabling policies as well as regulations to accelerate the scaling and adoption of innovations. At the global level, the engagement of low- and middle income countries with global players should be facilitated so as to strengthen intellectual property (IP) access and management of innovations; and North– South, South–South, and triangular cooperation should be promoted to strengthen LMICs’ regulatory capabilities. At the national level, countries need to invest in science-based participatory approaches to identify and adapt technologies to local conditions; close regulatory gaps through evidence-based frameworks that enable the rapid development, employment, and safe use of innovations; close institutional and human capacity gaps by addressing limitations in institutional capacities and coordination, while training a new generation of scientists with the skills needed to develop and deliver innovations; develop an understanding of political economy factors for a nuanced knowledge of actors’ agendas to better inform communications and address technology hesitancy; close digital infrastructure gaps in rural areas by promoting simultaneous investments in digital infrastructure and electrification, reducing data costs, and improving digital literacy; and develop sustainable business models for digital service providers to help them achieve profitability, interoperability, and scale to reach a sustainable critical mass, and thus facilitate the adoption of food systems innovations. 2021-05-01 2024-05-22T12:11:27Z 2024-05-22T12:11:27Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142989 en Open Access United Nations Food Systems Summit Benfica, Rui; Chambers, Judith A.; Koo, Jawoo; Nin-Pratt, Alejandro; Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin; Stads, Gert-Jan; and Arndt, Channing. 2021. Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation. United Nations Food Systems Summit. https://doi.org/10.48565/scfss2021-6180
spellingShingle innovation
value chains
agricultural bio-innovations
agricultural value chains
investment
technology
research
agricultural productivity
food systems
digital technology
Benfica, Rui
Chambers, Judith A.
Koo, Jawoo
Nin-Pratt, Alejandro
Falck-Zepeda, José B.
Stads, Gert-Jan
Arndt, Channing
Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
title Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
title_full Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
title_fullStr Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
title_full_unstemmed Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
title_short Food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
title_sort food system innovations and digital technologies to foster productivity growth and rural transformation
topic innovation
value chains
agricultural bio-innovations
agricultural value chains
investment
technology
research
agricultural productivity
food systems
digital technology
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142989
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