FAO and Polytechnic University of Milano Allies for the agriculture of the future: GeoAI and space technologies against hunger and the climate crisis

Milano, FAO and Polytechnic of Milano sign a new strategic alliance to revolutionize the future of global agriculture through advanced geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence. The goal is ambitious: to improve food security, natural resource management, and climate resilience by accelerating the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems.

A Memorandum to Transform Global Agriculture

The collaboration stems from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FAO and the Polytechnic University of Milano, aimed at the development and application of advanced digital tools based on Geospatial IT e GeoAI (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence)The project aims to integrate spatial data, predictive models, and intelligent systems to improve decision-making in the agricultural sector and support the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The agreement connects FAO's global reach with the scientific and technological expertise of the University of Milan, creating a bridge between advanced research and practical applications in the local communities.

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The strategic role of the Polytechnic of Milano

Founded in 1863, the Polytechnic of Milano Today, it is the largest public technical-scientific university in Italy and one of the leading European institutions in the fields of engineering, design, and architecture. Through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the university will contribute specific expertise in geographic information science and in territorial systems, increasingly central tools in strategies for sustainable agriculture and rural development.

The goal is to use geospatial data and advanced analytics to better understand the evolution of agricultural territories, predict critical issues, and optimize resource use.

Artificial intelligence offers new solutions for food security and climate change.

A key aspect of the agreement is the use of geospatial artificial intelligence to address increasingly pressing challenges: climate change, natural resource degradation, increasing food demand, and sustainable land management.

According to Dejan Jakovljevic , Director and Chief Information Officer of Digital FAO, the collaboration represents an important step towards a new technological agriculture:

“This partnership with the Polytechnic of Milano It demonstrates FAO's commitment to putting advanced digital tools at the service of agriculture. By integrating geospatial information technologies and GeoAI into our work, we can better support countries in addressing food security, managing natural resources, and building resilient agri-food systems.

The approach involves the development of systems capable of collecting, integrating, and interpreting enormous amounts of spatial data, helping to build predictive tools and more effective decision-making scenarios.

Training and skills development: the heart of the project

In addition to technological aspects, the Memorandum places a central role on training. The cooperation includes capacity-building programs to help governments and institutions develop technical expertise in geospatial systems and the use of new digital technologies applied to agriculture.

Skills development is considered a key element to ensure that innovation can translate into concrete benefits for local areas and communities.

The Hand-in-Hand Initiative and data-driven agriculture

Among the key elements of the agreement is the strengthening of FAO's geospatial infrastructure. Particularly important in this context is the Hand-in-Hand Initiative , an international program that uses spatial data to identify areas with high agricultural potential at the subnational level.

The initiative aims to direct strategic investments and interventions where they can have the greatest economic and social impact, with planning increasingly driven by data analysis.

Donatella Sciuto: "Research and innovation for the well-being of society"

The Rector of the Polytechnic of Milano, Donatella Sciuto, underlined the strategic value of the agreement and the role of research in generating concrete impacts:

“At the Polytechnic of Milano We believe that research and training in digital and space technologies should contribute to the well-being of society. This Memorandum of Understanding with FAO represents an important step in applying our expertise to support the sustainable transformation of agriculture.

The collaboration will be developed through a regularly updated work plan to address emerging challenges and seize further technological opportunities. The ultimate goal is clear: to develop high-impact solutions that will make a concrete contribution to the fight against hunger, increase climate resilience, and promote more inclusive and sustainable rural development.

The agriculture of the future increasingly relies on data, artificial intelligence, and the ability to transform technology into concrete tools to improve people's lives. The alliance between FAO and the Polytechnic University of Milano aims precisely at this: combining research, innovation, and sustainability to address the major global challenges of the coming decades.