Theme

Agri-food systems today face unprecedented challenges, driven by climate change, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity, and the growing demand for food security, as well as food quality and safety. These pressures highlight the urgent need to design more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems that are aligned with ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation and long-term societal goals. Digital innovation, and especially Artificial Intelligence (AI), offers promising tools to address these challenges. By enhancing knowledge transfer, identifying sustainable practices adapted to local conditions, and supporting data-driven decision-making, AI can help align agri-food systems with ecosystem needs. Such innovation can strengthen resilience, reduce vulnerabilities, and create synergies between technology, policy, and sustainability.

At the same time, the policy dimension is crucial. The European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Long-Term Rural Vision, and global climate and biodiversity commitments provide the framework within which digital innovation must be embedded. Aligning AI-driven solutions with these policy goals ensures that technological progress contributes effectively to environmental protection, rural development, food system resilience and meeting market-level preferences. This seminar aims to create a forum where researchers, practitioners, and policymakers can exchange insights on how to harness AI and digital tools in ways that serve sustainability objectives, reinforce policy priorities, and promote the transformation of agri-food systems in harmony with ecosystems.

Objectives

The 194^th EAAE Seminar aims to provide a platform for dialogue on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation can contribute to aligning agri-food systems with ecosystems and sustainability goals. It seeks to promote the exchange of research and ideas, foster interdisciplinary discussion that links digital innovation with policy priorities, and generate insights to support evidence-based decision-making at European and international levels. Selected papers presented at the seminar will be published in an Editor’s multi-authored book.