Towards Smart Agriculture: Advancing G20 Cooperation in Agricultural Biotechnology

The agriculture sector plays a crucial role in economic growth and inclusive development and is integral to food and nutrition security. Today, agriculture and allied sectors are facing numerous challenges, ranging from climate change, depleting natural resources, drought, extreme temperatures, and biotic stress. These challenges need to be addressed through active biotechnological interventions using critical and emerging technologies. The Agriculture Working Group of the G20 can coordinate at the policy level to address current challenges concerning agriculture. Genetic engineering and gene editing to improve the nutritional quality of crops and improve their resistance to pests and pathogens have potential to improve this sector within G20 countries. Additionally, translational projects like efficient nitrogen uptake and ‘Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency’ holds the promise of higher yields in a future where droughts could be more frequent and intense. Knowledge- sharing, technological collaboration, and technological innovations in these sectors, as well as capacity building in the scientific community and academia should be prioritised. These advanced agri-technologies supported by digitalisation can be seminal to improving resilience to climate change and producing biofortified foods to ensure food nutritional security, health, and sustainable development towards realising Sustainable Development Goal 2. This Policy Brief discusses these issues and offers scientific and policy recommendations.