Second Meeting of Global Initiative on AI for Agri-Food Systems (GI-AI4FS) Concludes in New Delhi
A global meeting focused on the responsible use of AI and IoT to transform agri-food systems was held in New Delhi during the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026.
The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026, hosted the second meeting of the United Nations' Global Initiative on AI for Agri-Food Systems (GI-AI4FS). The event was jointly managed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
GI-AI4FS is a United Nations initiative coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP). The meeting saw participation from approximately 70 representatives from international organizations, government departments, research institutions, academia, and industry in person, while 25 participants joined online.
During the opening session, Dr. Sebastian Bose, Chair of GI-AI4FS, delivered the introductory address. Other key speakers included Mr. Krishnan Pallassana, Senior Expert at FAO; Dr. Bilal Jemaoui, Deputy Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau (TSB) at ITU; Dr. A.K. Nayak, Deputy Director General of ICAR; and Mr. Syed Tausif Abbas, Senior Deputy Director General of TEC.
The meeting emphasized that the integration of connected sensors, drones, weather stations, satellite-based systems, and AI-enabled analytics can significantly aid precision agriculture. These technologies will facilitate better resource utilization, early detection of crop diseases, and assist farmers in making accurate decisions. Furthermore, there are opportunities to increase efficiency in agricultural supply chains and improve product traceability through digital technologies.
Prior to the main meeting, a two-day international hackathon was organized on October 8-9, 2026, at the ICAR campus in New Delhi. Students and researchers developed technical solutions for agricultural challenges during the hackathon. The results were demonstrated during the GI-AI4FS meeting, and the winning innovations were honored.
In the final stages of the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding the governance framework, coordination structure, nomination of working groups, and the identification of priority areas for GI-AI4FS. The overall objective of the initiative is to strengthen agricultural and food systems globally by promoting trustworthy and farmer-centric AI solutions.
