In preparation for the upcoming G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, the science academies of the G7 countries have issued joint statements and guidance to their respective governments. These statements were issued under the guidance of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome and were collaborated on by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, as well as academies from Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The statements address a variety of topics related to agriculture, including artificial intelligence and society, health issues, and security and safety in agricultural production. The statement on AI emphasizes the importance of globally coordinated and inclusive governance to address both the benefits and concerns associated with AI. It recommends steps to protect AI systems from cyber and physical attacks, enforce standards for AI-generated content, and promote equity in AI’s future by expanding access to high-performance computing.
Another key statement pertains to health issues. It calls for actions to combat antimicrobial resistance, strengthen national health systems, and mitigate the impact of climate change on health. The statement highlights the need for global initiatives to identify potential novel pathogens and their natural reservoirs in other species given the weaknesses revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The security and safety of agricultural production is also addressed in the statements. Recommendations include investing in monitoring and rehabilitating microbial biodiversity in soil, adopting a management model that combines traditional knowledge with emerging technology options, and promoting trade patterns that support sustainable agriculture and food systems.
The U.S. National Academies of Sciences are independent nonprofit institutions that provide objective analysis
