Frugal Innovation is the most promising tech to improve farmers’ lives and feed humanity sustainably

The FAO and CIRAD studied 20 emerging technologies and novel innovation approaches that could improve farmer’s lives and make global agrifood systems sustainable over the next two decades.

Read their full report (PDF).

The study identifies frugal innovation (see pages 47–48 in PDF) as the most promising practice that can empower farmers globally and help build inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems as early as 2035 (a full decade earlier than other emerging technologies !)

I gave a talk via hologram at FAO’s Science and Innovation Forum 2023 on how to apply frugal innovation to produce better food using fewer resources.

Read my article in World Economic Forum Agenda on how to apply the 3 principles of frugal innovation to improve food production inclusively and sustainably.

I respectfully disagree with the FAO/CIRAD study’s observation that “heavy upfront (R&D) investments” could be an obstacle to adopt frugal innovation in developing nations.

Actually, the whole paradigm of frugal innovation hinges on not having to invest in NEW resources (including R&D) but rather cleverly REUSE and REPURPOSE existing resources — knowledge, assets, technologies. infrastructure, and social capital — that are *already* available locally.