About Global Initiative on AI for Agri-Food Systems:
- It is a UN Global Initiative.
- It is coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in close collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Food Programme (WFP).
- This provided a platform for advancing dialogue on the responsible use of AI in agriculture and food systems by promoting trustworthy and interoperable farmer-centric AI solutions.
- It strengthens international cooperation on governance and standards and identifying opportunities to translate innovation into practical applications.
What is International Telecommunication Union?
- It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.
- Historical Background:
- It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
- In 1947 the ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations.
- It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
- Member countries: It has a membership of 194 countries and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations.
- India and ITU: India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
