World Food Day Observance

You are cordially invited to join our Webinar in observance of the upcoming World Food Day on 15 October with the theme Agri-food system innovations in Asia and the Pacific.

The event will commence, virtually, Friday 15 October, at 11 am Bangkok time (GMT+7) and conclude at 12:30. It will include a special video message from our Guest of Honour, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.  

As we know, innovations occur throughout food systems: from production to consumption. The ongoing food e-commerce revolution taking place in the Asia-Pacific region is happening at the same time that mobile-based business models are emerging to provide advisory, marketing and financial services at scale to smallholder farmers, whereas a parallel revolution in Industry 4.0 technologies is taking agro-industries to new levels of efficiency. 

Advances in science and physical innovations are also reshaping the way in which food is grown, packaged and sold. At the same time, the utility of traditional knowledge and good cultural practices is being rediscovered to enhance sustainability and resilience of food systems. 

In fact, digitalization provides an opportunity to revive and disseminate these practices widely. ‘Together they offer great potential for improving the efficiency and sustainability of agri-food systems in Asia-Pacific as highlighted during the recent SIDS Solutions Forum held on 30 and 31 August.’

Food system innovations are also instrumental in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2 and 13 (No Poverty, Zero Hunger and Climate action). 

There are, however, several risks associated with digitalization and other innovations, from potential job losses to environmental degradation and data governance concerns. 

Moreover, different agri-food systems and actors within them innovate at varying speed and manner and would require, thus, tailored strategies to leave no one behind. 

The Asia-Pacific regional World Food Day event will showcase proven solutions for tapping the potential of innovations in agri-food systems, while making them more sustainable and inclusive, and reducing the digital divide.