The United Nations Food and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has called for increased investment in innovation and climate-resilient agriculture to boost food production, strengthen rural livelihoods and improve Nigerians’ access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.

The call comes as Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate ‎World Food Day 2026 under the theme, “Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.”.

The UN agency stressed that the the theme emphasized the importance of science, technology, indigenous knowledge, innovative practices and partnerships in building more productive, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

They stressed that innovation goes beyond artificial intelligence and digital technologies as it includes improved farming practices, irrigation, mechanisation, climate-smart agriculture, innovative financing, stronger markets and institutions, enabling policies and indigenous knowledge that can deliver tangible benefits to food producers and consumers.

FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, emphasized that innovation must ultimately translate into better livelihoods and improved food and nutrition security.

He said “Every innovation begins with knowledge, and every harvest begins with a hand. By investing in people, fostering innovation and strengthening partnerships, we can build resilient agrifood systems, improve nutrition and ensure that no Nigerian is left behind,”

Gadain pointed out that Nigeria has significant potential to strengthen its position as a leading agrifood economy in Africa, given its agricultural resources, water, youthful population and entrepreneurial capacity.

However he said challenges such , climate shocks, insecurity, flooding, land degradation, post-harvest losses, rising production costs and limited access to finance continue to constrain food production and rural livelihoods.

FAO therefore called for proven solutions to be scaled up and made accessible to farmers, fishers, pastoralists and rural communities, particularly women and young people.

With 2026 also marking the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Gadain highlighted the importance of expanding women farmers’ access to land, finance, technologies, skills, productive resources and markets, alongside greater opportunities for young people across agrifood value chains.

He added that Investment in livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land and water management, early warning systems and disaster preparedness can further strengthen nutrition, create employment, stimulate economic growth and build resilience.

“Life-changing innovation delivers its greatest impact when it reaches the people who need it most. Partnerships and investment must therefore help move proven solutions from ideas into the hands of producers and communities,” Gadain emphasized.

He reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to supporting the Government of Nigeria through technical assistance, policy support, innovation, investment mobilisation and climate resilience initiatives.

He stated that these priorities complement Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to transform its agriculture and food systems through national policies and investment frameworks, like the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy and the National Agri-Food Systems Investment Plan, aimed at increasing productivity, strengthening resilience and improving food and nutrition security.

FAO also called for stronger collaboration among government, farmers, research institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, civil society and development partners to translate innovation and investment into measurable improvements in food security, nutrition and livelihoods.

As Nigeria marks World Food Day 2026, FAO stressed that transforming agrifood systems will depend on ensuring that innovation reaches those who produce, process and distribute the nation’s food.

“By investing in people, scaling proven solutions and strengthening partnerships, Nigeria can innovate today to nourish tomorrow”, he stated.