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Scaling up inclusive digitalization in agricultural value chains

Thirty-sixth Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 36)

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Bangkok, Thailand ;

Pages 13

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Meeting

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) In Asia and the Pacific, digital transformation occurs at all stages of the value chains, from food production to consumption. The ongoing food e-commerce revolution 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. A parallel revolution in Industry 4.0 technologies is taking agro-industries to new levels of efficiency. Digitalization offers great potential for improving the efficiency and sustainability of value chains, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2 and 13 (No Poverty, Zero Hunger and Climate Action). There are, however, several risks associated with digitalization, from potential job losses to environmental degradation and data governance concerns. Different value chains, and actors within them, digitalize at varying speeds and would therefore require tailored digitalization strategies to leave no one behind. Policymakers in the region need to facilitate the scaling up of digital innovations along agricultural value chains in an inclusive and sustainable manner, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members are invited to provide guidance on how FAO can best support them in fostering the inclusive digitalization of agricultural and food value chains.

Statutory body / Meeting title FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC)

Meeting symbol APRC/22/6

Meeting Session Number Sess. 36

Meeting date 8 -11 March 2022

Meeting location Dhaka, Bangladesh

Language English

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