In this issue, we look at a new publication entitled “Payments for ecosystem services and food security”. This document was produced as part of preparatory process for FAO’s participation in the Rio+20 event to be held in 2012. We also look ahead to World Water Week to be held 21-27 August in Stockholm, Sweden, where FAO will participate in a seminar anticipating the theme of 2012’s World Water Day – Water and Food Security. Finally, with the Thirteenth Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held at FAO Headquarters in July, we introduce some of the key areas where preserving biodiversity is essential to achieving food security.

Isses in the spotlight. The Thirteenth Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was held at FAO Headquarters 16-22 July 2011. Many issues were on the agenda, including approval of the Multi-year Programme of Work. In light of so many challenges threatening global food security, greater attention is being concentrated on the need to preserve biological diversity for food and agriculture. We take a look at some of the key areas where safeguarding biodiversity will be critical for the food security needs of future generations.

A healthy ecosystem can provide a variety of crucial services for public goods, such as clean water, nutrient cycling, climate regulation and food security — services that contribute directly or indirectly to human well-being. Yet today, many ecosystems are in decline; this is of particular importance to agriculture, which depends on ecosystem services. Loss of healthy ecosystems will seriously affect the production of food, both today and in the future. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) is an economic instrument designed to provide positive incentives to users of agricultural land and those involved in coastal or marine management. These incentives are expected to result in continued or improved provision of ecosystem services, which, in turn, will benefit society as a whole.