World Agrifood Innovation Conference (WAFI) Highlights Global Efforts for Sustainable Agriculture
The World Agrifood Innovation Conference (WAFI), organized by the Chinese government and held from October 12-15, 2025, was one of the most significant international agri-food events. It brought together scientists from around the world to share experiences on technological innovations for sustainable agriculture with academics, students, international officials, and the private sector.
Relevance of South-South Cooperation
As a guest of the Chinese Agricultural University, I had the opportunity to discuss South-South cooperation on technological innovation to address climate change challenges. In today’s geopolitical conflicts, it is crucial for countries with similar development levels to collaborate and support each other in maintaining global food security.
Youth Engagement and the Future of Agriculture
WAFI stood out for its significant youth participation, primarily from the host country. This engagement is vital as future generations will bear the primary responsibility of preserving our planet’s delicate ecological and productive balance.
Addressing Food Production and Distribution Challenges
Despite climate-induced environmental alterations impacting agricultural productivity, we can still feed the world. According to FAO, enough food was produced last year for over 10 billion people, yet 735 million suffer from chronic hunger. This discrepancy stems mainly from distribution issues, limited physical and economic access, and unjustified food waste.
Chinese Technological Advancements for Global South
Aware of their high greenhouse gas emissions, Chinese academics are proposing climate change solutions by sharing technological advancements developed through collaboration between their universities, research centers, and powerful industries.
Accessibility of Technological Innovations
While I agree with this approach, it’s essential to efficiently connect knowledge with end-users—farmers worldwide. Availability of technological innovations, such as biotechnology, genome editing, artificial intelligence, robotics, precision agriculture, real-time computing, geospatial imagery, and drones, will provide appropriate solutions based on each country’s capacity to adopt them.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue discussed at WAFI? The primary concern was how to stop and reverse the process of food inaccessibility and waste, considering China’s high greenhouse gas emissions.
- What technological advancements were shared at WAFI? Chinese academics presented innovations like biotechnology, genome editing, artificial intelligence, robotics, precision agriculture, real-time computing, geospatial imagery, and drones.
- How can we ensure farmers have access to these technologies? It’s crucial to connect knowledge efficiently with end-users—farmers worldwide—to implement these technologies according to their capabilities and needs.
- What role does the agricultural sector play in mitigating climate change? The agricultural sector is reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration with good agricultural practices, regenerative agriculture, and raising awareness in rural communities about simple soil management techniques.
- What is an example of successful agricultural innovation? MasAgro, promoted by CIMMYT in southern Mexico, has benefited over 500,000 farmers and their communities by promoting proper soil and water management while increasing crop yields by more than 20%.
