ITU and FAO team up to promote ICT-driven innovation in agriculture

21 September 2017. New York. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the United Nations Food and Agriuclture Organization (FAO) signed a memorandum of understanding to promote ICT-driven innovation in agriculture. The two institutions will in this framework team up to facilitate the development of measures and regulations related to e-agriculture. The final objective of the partnership is to boost national and regional competitiveness of all countries, the poorest especially.

“ICT have a tremendous potential to support rural development, improve rural households’ resiliency, improve farmers’ access to markets and other services, make women and youth more autonomous. They will help insure that rural populations are not left out”. Director General of FAO, José Graziani da Silva

Truly, with ICT tools, mobile phones included, rural populations can abandon archaic farming methods which they inherited from their customs and traditions, and improve their production and subsequently their revenues. They will be able to identify the best agricultural inputs and sales outlets, access weather data to determine the best periods to plant and harvest, use the best agricultural practices to improve yields, etc.

According to FAO, improving agricultural output with ICT falls in line with the sustainable development goals of its 2030 agenda, to end poverty and hunger, among others.

Related:
Workshop 9-11 October 2017, Rhenen, Netherlands. Perspectives for ICT and Agribusiness in ACP countries: Start-up financing, 3D printing and blockchain. The workshop is organised by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation, as part of its ICT for agriculture (ICT4Ag) and youth in agriculture activities. The objective of the workshop is thus to examine strategies to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the blockchain and 3D Printing technologies in the agricultural sector, and for financing e-agriculture start-ups in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The specific objectives are to:

• Identify key issues and avenues relating to improving access to capital and profitability for ICT4Ag businesses owned by young entrepreneurs;
• Develop a better understanding of the relevance and perspectives of 3D Printing and blockchain technologies for the ACP agricultural sector;
• Develop recommendations which will favour the design of strategic actions to address issues discussed.

Download the concept note of the workshop