This volume demonstrates the possibility of harmonizing agricultural production with the wellbeing of the biosphere – and that this can be achieved in Africa, our biosphere’s least developed continent, and the continent which is likely to suffer most from climate change. The work presented in this volume stems from a Conference on Ecological Agriculture held in Ethiopia in 2008. Through the discussions held during this Conference and field visits to Tigray, a region struck by hunger in the eighties and largely food secure today, participants shared insights on Africa’s potential for intensifying its agriculture through a better use of natural resources and ecosystem services.

Since its formation, the Panel has opened up the general discussion of ethical issues in food and agriculture. A major focus of attention has been the ethical issues arising in food and agriculture from economic globalization and the intensification of agriculture. A second and related issue has been the exploration of ethical aspects of the global emergency of hunger. The Panel has examined a wide range of specific topics including: ethical issues in fisheries; the ethics of food safety; ethical issues in food aid; ethical perspectives on animal welfare and the intensification of animal production; the issues surrounding global goods, global services and privatization; and intellectual property rights. This publication reports on considerations from the Panel’s fourth session.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has teamed up with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity, the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts and the Youth and Unite Nations Global Alliance to offer a Biodiversity Challenge Badge to young people willing to gain the knowledge, skills and values to protect, preserve and improve biodiversity. This publication introduces age-appropriate activities designed to introduce the concepts of biodiversity and to stimulate exploration through active-based learning.

This month, we will be marking the annual World Water Day celebration on 22 March. This year’s theme is Water for the cities: Responding to urban challenges. In this issue, we look at some of the challenges posed to water resources by rapid migration and we consider one possible solution for improving the use of these resources. In this issue, we are pleased to welcome a new Executive Secretary to the Commission for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and we also invite you to participate in a moderated e-consultation on Sustainability Assessment of the Food Chain, running through 25 March. The input gathered from this e-consultation will feed into the preparatory process for the Rio+20 Conference planned for next year.

We are pleased to invite you to participate into a moderated electronic stakeholders' consultation on “Sustainability Assessment of the Food Chain” from 21 February to 25 March 2011. The aim is to seek views and share knowledge on a sustainability framework that includes core sustainability issues and a common set of performance indicators, based on the food chain sector practices. The outcome of this exercise will consist of voluntary international guidelines for food producers and retailers. To participate, just visit our website, log-on and join us in the discussions.