FAO Conference Stresses Role of Biotechnology in Sustainable Food Systems
The Hague, Tuesday, 17 June 2025.
The FAO’s 2025 Biotechnology Conference focuses on leveraging biotechnologies to tackle climate change and enhance global food security, emphasizing the Netherlands’ role in sustainable agrifood practices.
Innovation in Plant Biotechnology
The FAO’s Global Agrifood Biotechnologies Conference is spotlighting significant strides in plant biotechnology, particularly those aimed at sustainability and efficiency. Innovations like harnessing microbial biofertilizers, presented by Amar Dhere from S.N.D.T. College of Home Science in India, suggest promising pathways to improve soil health and boost crop yields [5]. Another noteworthy contribution is the gene editing work by Bishal Tamang from the University of Illinois in the United States, which optimizes soybean production for better resource management [5].
Global Perspectives and Participation
The conference has drawn a diverse and global participation, with attendees and presenters from various countries, underscoring its international significance. Participants like Edem Aheto from the University of Ghana discussed the genetic challenges in tomato production [5]. With the Netherlands playing a pivotal role by hosting part of the conference, the emphasis is on the country’s leadership in agrifood technologies, advocating for innovative practices that align with environmental sustainability [5].
Challenges and Opportunities
Despite these innovations, the adoption of biotechnologies remains uneven across different regions, primarily due to variations in infrastructure, policy, and financial resources [1][2]. The FAO emphasizes the need for equitable biotechnology distribution to address these gaps, as presented at the conference held from June 16 to 18, 2025, in Rome, Italy [1][4]. This approach seeks to ensure resilient food security frameworks worldwide.
Future Strategies for Sustainable Agrifood Systems
Looking ahead, the FAO aims to use insights from this conference to further their strategic objective of unveiling biotechnology pathways for sustainable development [5]. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and promoting gender-inclusive innovations, the conference highlights ongoing efforts to transform agrifood systems, aligning with the broader goals of the FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-2031 [1][4].