FAO Announces Global Smart Farming Conference On Digital Agriculture

7

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will host a Global Smart Farming Conference to explore how digital technologies can drive more sustainable, productive, and resilient agriculture.
• The conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, farmers, agribusiness leaders, technology providers, and development partners to discuss the future of digital agriculture.
• Key discussions will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), precision agriculture, data-driven farming, climate resilience, and expanding technology access for youth and women in agriculture.
• FAO says the event aims to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the adoption of smart farming solutions that improve food security and support sustainable agrifood systems worldwide.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will convene governments, researchers, farmers, agribusinesses, technology companies and development partners in Rome, Italy, from July 1 to July 3, 2026, for its Global Conference on Smart Farming, a hybrid event aimed at accelerating the adoption of digital technologies for sustainable agrifood systems.

The conference will place a special focus on empowering youth and women to drive smart farming innovation through entrepreneurship, digital skills and investment.

Held at FAO headquarters and streamed online, the three-day conference will explore how data, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), precision agriculture and digital platforms can help farmers improve productivity, reduce input use and build resilience against climate change. The event comes as rising production costs, labour shortages and extreme weather continue to pressure food systems worldwide.

A dedicated session on “Youth and Women in Smart Farming Systems” is scheduled for 2 July from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (CEST).

The session will examine how governments and industry can close the digital divide by expanding access to technology, finance, training and innovation opportunities for women and young farmers.

(Read Also: RoboCare: Tunisian Startup Secures Capital Injection to Scale AI-Driven Precision Farming)

We are excited to share with you

This FREE E-Book of 50 Agritech Pioneers & Their Game Changing Innovations.

Download the Ebook now 

EmailEnter your email address

Download 50 Agritech Founders Ebook

According to FAO, the conference will also identify policy priorities and investment opportunities needed to scale smart farming systems, particularly for smallholder farmers.

Discussions will cover enabling data ecosystems, governance frameworks, advisory services, technology transfer, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable business models that support the wider adoption of digital agriculture.

Participants will include FAO Member States, policymakers, researchers, academic institutions, civil society organisations, youth and farmers’ organisations, private-sector companies and development partners.

Registration is open for both in-person and virtual participation, making the event accessible to stakeholders worldwide.

FAO says the conference reflects the growing recognition that smart farming is no longer optional but essential to producing more food with fewer resources while protecting natural ecosystems. By bringing together technology developers, policymakers and producers, the organisation hopes to accelerate collaboration that can translate digital innovation into practical solutions for farmers across different production systems.