The Thirty-fifth Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) was convened virtually between 1-4 September 2020 where governments, civil society organisations, and the private sector underscored the importance of innovation, solidarity, coherence, and partnerships among and within countries. During the event, participants acknowledged how agricultural innovation can reduce back-breaking drudgery, while regional food chains can benefit from innovations such as drones, satellite imagery, big data, and blockchain technologies. To this aim, the significance of big data, digital economy, and mobile technology in helping producers achieve such transformations was emphasised. 'Leveraging data, innovation, and technology has shown that, here in Asia and the Pacific, we have brilliant minds, scientists and an entrepreneurial spirit that will lead us through the challenges presented by COVID-19 and help us conquer malnutrition and poverty,' noted FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.