We’ll make a couple wild guesses about what you’re doing right now. First, you’re connected to the Internet. Second, you’re finding out about what FAO is and what it does.

OK, so you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out. But we just wanted to point out that the Internet has become perhaps the most important tool FAO uses to get information out to its members, to donors and to the public.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of people in the developing world are not online. The tremendous gap in connectivity between the developed and developing worlds is referred to as the “digital divide”. For rural and farming communities, where poverty and hunger are most severe, this divide is even greater and it’s a real obstacle in the fight against hunger and poverty.

FAO is committed to bridging what it calls the “rural digital divide”. For example, FAO helps developing countries establish Internet access points in rural communities.

But you know, universal access to the Internet isn’t a miracle cure for world hunger. It wouldn’t even be realistic to try to reach such a goal. Computers may have become a big part of our lives, our education and our businesses, but they’re not the only way we get information. We still watch television, listen to the radio, read books, newspapers and magazines. We talk to our parents, teachers and friends.

That’s why FAO does more than just help countries bring their rural communities on line. It works to make sure that new information technologies support traditional and trusted local sources of information. In Africa, for example, FAO is involved in projects to connect rural radio stations with the Internet. The broadcasters translate practical news and information into local languages and get it out to millions of farmers.

More than just connections

OK, so you’re hooked up to the Internet and you’re finding out about FAO. It would be great if everyone had the same opportunity. But the Internet isn’t just about getting information, it’s about sharing information. It’s interactive. And if we’re going to bring an end to world hunger, all of us are going to have to interact in new ways.

One way FAO uses the Internet to help people interact is by setting up electronic conferences. E-conferences allow people from all around the world to get together in a virtual forum and discuss important technical issues related to agriculture and hunger.

Now, when you start to use the Internet to share information with a virtual community, things can get a little complicated. You may already have found this out for yourself. You’ve probably discovered (maybe the hard way) that if you’re not careful about how and where you save your files, you can be easily lose track of where things are. Plus if you want your files to be of any use to your community, you have to make sure their file format is compatible with their software. And if you want to keep your computer and everything you’ve got stored on it safe, you have to know how to protect yourself against viruses.

It’s the same for countries and organizations in the developing world. As they begin to participate more and more in the worldwide web, they have to deal with immense amounts of information. As part of its work to bridge the rural digital divide, FAO helps developing countries improve their ability to manage and share information about agriculture, food production and hunger in ways that are efficient, inexpensive and secure.

For example, FAO has worked with the Government of El Salvador to develop an Internet-based early warning information system for natural disasters. In Egypt, thanks to FAO’s assistance, agricultural researchers and extension workers are now actively communicating important technical information between rural villages and district and national offices via the Internet.

Building networks

All over the developing world, all kinds of rural development groups, farmers’ organizations and environmental organizations are becoming better connected to the Web. A big part of FAO’s work in bridging the rural digital divide involves helping build strong information and communication networks among these different groups. These networks give groups the opportunity to share experiences and successes about what works and what doesn't.

FAO’s goal is to ensure that as rural communities become better connected, the information available on line truly reflects the needs of everyone in the community.