The seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The theme of the forum focuses on “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope”. At AgriCord, we know that restoring our agricultural landscapes relies on the capable entrepreneurs and innovators who work the land every day: family farmers.

To highlight the essential role of family farming in this global effort, AgriCord CEO Katja Vuori will join a panel hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Office of Innovation. The side event is titled “A Global Outlook for Local Impact: Innovation and Technologies Shaping the Future of Land, Water and Agrifood Systems”. It will take place on 27 August 2026 in the Blue Zone of the Mongolia Pavilion.

Scaling land restoration requires moving beyond traditional structures to embrace farmer-led initiatives. By fostering peer-to-peer learning and targeted capacity building, we can ensure that local producer organisations have the tools to implement sustainable agroecology practices.

During the panel, speakers will explore how the ATIO global innovation intelligence platform can better support local communities. Key discussion priorities will highlight how to:

• Connect global technologies directly with the localised needs of family farmers.
• Build resilient agrifood systems through collaborative partnerships and shared knowledge.
• Secure rural livelihoods by placing producers at the centre of investment and policy planning.

Achieving global goals for land restoration demands a commitment to the people who steward our natural resources. How will we ensure that global innovations directly strengthen the resilience of family farmers on the frontlines of climate adaptation?

Download the concept note PDF