“Innovation ranging from technological, social, and organizational can play a key role in unlocking the potential of agriculture as the heart of food systems transformation. Farmers are innovators by nature and necessity and have innovative solutions that have survived for centuries. The Food Innovation Hubs puts farmers at the centre to both develop and inform innovation ecosystems for their benefit and the benefit of the natural ecosystems they work in.” With these words, the President of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) Theo de Jager welcomed the Food Innovation Hubs’ official launch at the Davos Agenda.
As a member of the Food Action Alliance (FAA), that is driving the next generation of partnerships and investments in food systems, we look forward to contributing to the FAA’s flagship initiative, Food Innovation Hubs, bringing the farmers’ voice into this key multistakeholder platform that will leverage technology and broader innovations to strengthen local innovation ecosystems for food systems transformation.
With country-led approaches, the Hubs will drive both high-end and low-cost grassroots and other innovations that could have a scalable impact, as well as innovations encompassing supply chains, partnerships and business models that can enable systemic change.
With the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021 as a key milestone to deliver action and broader engagement, these Hubs are working with local stakeholders to forge partnerships that develop impactful innovations.
Over the next year, the Hubs will also develop a community of practice that enables continuous learning and capacity building.
Currently work is underway in Latin America (Colombia), Africa, India, and ASEAN.
WFO decided to take an active part in this initiative to ensure that actions are farmer-led and respectful of the farmers’ views and expectations. The farmers at the country level have been involved already in the planning process of future actions in their respective countries.