The National ICT4Ag Event is a complementary activity to the global ICTforAg 2023 scheduled on November 7-9, 2023. It provided an inclusive opportunity for local participants to engage with their peers in the vibrant local digital ecosystem and also connect with the global community. 

The National ICT4Ag Event was co-organized by the CGIAR Research Initiative on Digital Innovation, IRRI and BSIP. The program included a keynote lecture and three sessions focusing on the following themes:

Innovation: aimed to explore innovative digital technology solutions that are available in agri-food systems in the developing world, delving into cutting-edge research, technologies, and approaches that are scaling while overcoming adoption barriers

Inspiration: aimed to inspire the audience with real-world examples, showcasing both success and lessons-learned stories, highlighting the potential of digital technologies to drive positive changes in the agri-food sector.

Inclusion: aimed to critically review technology solutions through the lens of gender and social inclusion, highlighting the policies, strategies, and other enabling considerations that can lead to an inclusive digital ecosystem.

The event was opened by Dr. Jawoo Koo, Senior Research Fellow from the International Food Policy Research Unit and Lead – CGIAR Research Initiative on Digital Innovation
Dr. Kentaro Toyoma, W.K. Kellogg Professor of Community Information from the University of Michigan was the keynote speaker. There were two presenters for each theme. An open discussion followed the presentations for each theme. Dr. Sheetal Sharma, Senior Scientist from IRRI and WP5 Lead – CGIAR Research Initiative on Digital Innovation closed the program with a vote of thanks.

A total of 80 in-person and 60 online attendees from the government and non-government organizations, private sector and academia joined the event.