The Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) plays a significant role in fostering collaboration and innovation across Commonwealth nations, particularly in technology and AI. I was delighted to participate in the autumn event on Monday at the Royal Society of Arts, which explored food systems policy frameworks for sustainable technology management, enhancing trade efficiencies, and making AI advancements fully inclusive.
The autumn event brought together thought leaders to tackle pressing issues in food systems, sustainable technology, trade efficiency, and inclusive AI. With contributions from Phil Young, Johan Jorgensen, Robert Barnes, and Niraj Saraf, the discussions were a masterclass in systems thinking and practical innovation.
Bridging the Global Divide with AI
Phil Young, Director of Strategy at Digital Catapult, focused on how AI can empower the Global South to leapfrog traditional development pathways. With 85% of the world's population residing in the Global South, the potential for transformation is immense.
Phil highlighted the role of validated and explainable AI, particularly in supply chains, where transparency and trust are crucial. Dr NKundwe Moses, director general of the ICT commission in Tanzania, provided great examples of LLMs developed entirely on local knowledge and Swahili. Phil spotlighted the importance of culturally relevant, explainable AI systems. These models are rooted in local knowledge, breaking away from the dependency on Global AI hyper scalar technology companies with conflicting vested interests driven by advertising and subscription bases.
Another intriguing area was using digital twins to create feedback loops for complex systems. These digital replicas help identify inefficiencies and optimise processes by simulating real-world scenarios. As Phil put it, the challenge lies in navigating the "hype cycle" of AI while ensuring its adoption augments human capability and respects local contexts.
Rethinking Food Systems for a Sustainable Future
Johan Jorgensen, founder of Sweden Foodtech, delivered an eye-opening critique of our current food systems. With 75% of food calories derived from just 12 plants and five animals, the system disregards the biodiversity essential for resilience and sustainability. Johan called for a paradigm shift, urging stakeholders to explore the untapped value of biodiversity.
He spotlighted innovative projects like Solein Protein, Derived from carbon dioxide, showcasing potential in alternative protein sources. Recycling Beer Grains: Repurposing grains for chocolate and coffee production. Bustanica: Dubai's largest indoor farm, setting benchmarks for urban agriculture.
Johan also warned against reliance on conventional methods, such as heavy machinery and soy monocultures, which deplete ecosystems. Instead, he championed biofactories and microorganism cultivation as transformative solutions.
He also introduced the concept of "circular urbanity," where food production integrates into urban environments, leveraging microorganisms and biofactories for sustainable growth. He suggested that these models, including Synecoculture, could increase productivity and economic benefits by up to 90 times, showcasing nature's untapped potential.
Enhancing Trade Efficiency Through Digital Innovation
Robert Barnes shifted the focus to trade efficiencies, underscoring the benefits of digital transformation. He highlighted how digitising trade processes could enhance efficiency by 25%. He underscored the unique advantage of the Commonwealth's legal frameworks, rooted in 800 years of common law, which foster trust and confidence in international contracts.
Robert detailed innovations in digital asset property laws and multi-trading platforms like UBS MTF. These systems enable timestamping and traceability, enhancing trust in transactions. He also touched on advancements like the Electronic Data Exchange Act and the Pension Responsible Investment Act, which promote sustainable finance through clean energy attributes and ESG-focused investment tools. These developments position the Commonwealth to lead in digital trade and capital market innovation.
Central to his message was the need to convert risk capital into working capital, which drives job creation and economic growth. The shift towards digital ecosystems accelerates trade and strengthens its foundation in trust and transparency.
Malaysia is a key, long-standing partner of CPTM. Rashid, CEO of the Malaysia Industry Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), shared how it is and has been embracing a partnership and cofounding model to solve problems – several MIGHT support engineering innovators have been to the ChangeSchool run Royal Academy of Engineering LIF Global programmes. Izham Khairuddin from Cybersecurity Malaysia shared how establishing trust in National identity systems is vital if the benefits of digitisation are to continue.
A Call for Systems Thinking and Smart Partnerships
Niraj Saraf, COO of CPTM, concluded the session by reflecting on the interconnected nature of the topics discussed. He advocated systems thinking, highlighting that transactional approaches rarely yield long-term success. Instead, the solutions lie in fostering smart partnerships that bring diverse perspectives to the table.
Niraj concluded the session by urging participants to adopt systems thinking. He emphasised that transactional approaches often fall short, advocating for smart partnerships and the diversity-driven models pioneered by CPTM. These strategies, Niraj suggested, are essential to unlocking innovation across interconnected systems, from food and AI to trade and governance.
So what then next
The CPTM autumn event showcased how cross-disciplinary collaboration can tackle global challenges. The speakers demonstrated the power of inclusive, sustainable solutions, from leveraging AI for the Global South to transforming food systems and digitising trade, underscoring the importance of innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration in addressing global challenges. The call to action is clear: sustainable development requires holistic approaches that integrate local knowledge, embrace diversity, and prioritise trust in systems. As CPTM continues to drive these conversations, the insights shared by the speakers provide a roadmap for a future where technology and innovation are equitable and impactful.
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