I go to sleep and wake up yearning for the day when we will finally achieve global food security and healthy diets for all.
The world already produces enough food to nourish everyone. Yet, an estimated 645 million people still face hunger, while 2.69 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Why is this the case, and what are we doing to close this gap? If we produce enough food globally, why are so many people still going hungry? This points to challenges across our agrifood systems, from production and storage to transportation, distribution and access. We must address these gaps to reduce food loss and waste and ensure that nutritious food reaches the people who need it.
On 16 October, we mark World Food Day and this year, the theme is “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.” Innovation in agrifood systems is about transforming how food is produced, stored, transported and marketed. It highlights the critical role of science, technology, innovation and traditional knowledge in building more efficient, inclusive and resilient food systems.
The title for today’s article was drawn from Samson Ogbole, a prominent farmer in Nigeria. For a long time, innovation has been associated mainly with new technologies. However, innovation goes beyond technology; it can take the form of new ways of learning, collaborating, producing and sharing knowledge. Traditional agricultural practices and community-led initiatives are also valuable sources of innovation, reminding us that some solutions can emerge from the knowledge and experiences communities already possess.
Achieving this transformation requires collective action. Farmers, fishers, herders, foresters, investors, Indigenous Peoples and young people all have a role to play. By bringing together their knowledge, experiences and ideas, we can advance solutions that nourish people today while protecting the resources future generations depend on.
I am encouraged to see young people at the forefront of this transformation. Across communities, they are advancing innovation, leading change and developing solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing food and agriculture.
One innovator whose work stands out to me is Elizabeth Gakinya. After observing that fish mortality in smallholder aquaculture can occur silently overnight, underwater and without detection, she sought to understand why. She identified a critical challenge: manual water monitoring can leave farmers unaware of dangerous drops in dissolved oxygen, shifts in pH and temperature fluctuations until it is too late.
This challenge inspired her to establish TRIDENT ANALiTICs, a startup that aims to give farmers “eyes underwater” by combining locally developed Internet of Things (IoT) water sensors, real-time mobile telemetry and AI-driven analytics. By helping farmers monitor water conditions more effectively, such solutions can support better decision-making and help prevent avoidable losses.
I am also encouraged by the reported recognition of her startup through a KSh 1.29 million grant from the Standard Chartered Foundation, which could support the growth of the business, strengthen its solutions and expand its reach.
As we advance technology, however, we must also ask how we can scale these innovations so they reach the people who need them most. Developing new knowledge and tools is important, but their impact depends on whether people can access, afford and use them. Are these solutions moving fast enough, and are they reaching the communities that stand to benefit most?
These questions are central to conversations taking place in Rome, Italy, and online during the World Food Forum’s 2026 flagship events, running from 8 to 16 October. Under the Science and Innovation Forum pillar, FAO Chief Scientist Professor Charlie Spillane has invited stakeholders to explore how science, technology and innovation can accelerate agrifood systems transformation and ensure that solutions reach those who need them most.
Answering these questions requires contributions from every sector and discipline. Researchers, farmers, technology innovators, food producers, women leaders, Indigenous knowledge holders and young changemakers all bring valuable perspectives. Together, they can demonstrate how artificial intelligence, digital tools and frontier science can accelerate solutions to agrifood challenges.
Professor Spillane has also highlighted the need to democratize science and innovation, particularly when millions of people still lack access to basic technologies that could improve their lives. Innovation must not only advance; it must also become more accessible and inclusive.
As we mark World Food Day 2026, let us reflect on the challenges facing our agrifood systems and consider how each of us can contribute to achieving food security and healthy diets for all.
“Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”
Amanda Namayi
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