Rural communities in developing countries face increasing challenges related to food security, livelihoods, and natural resource management, including the impacts of climate change. In response to member countries demands for support in these areas, the Research and Extension Division provides advisory and technical services to support an integrated approach to agricultural research, extension, education of rural people and communication for development. Work in this area concentrates primarily on supporting and enhancing the capacities of agricultural research and extension systems, as well as education for rural people and communication for development institutions, with special emphasis on rural radio.

FAO activities in the area of research and extension are focused on establishing strong linkages among researchers, extension providers, educators, communicators and producers as well as building partnerships at national and international levels. The Division also contributes to activities related to capacity building for the safe application of biotechnology.

The Research and Extension Division acts as a liaison point with the international agriculture research system, including regional fora and networks, the Consultative Group International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and its International Agricultural Research Centers.

The Research and Extension Division hosts the Secretariat of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR).

Research and Extension

Developments in biotechnology and biosafety, climate change concerns, food insecurity, the growing relevance of agri-food chains, demands for greater rural producer empowerment, and in the changes in information and communication technologies combine to provide many new opportunities for growth and renewal for national agriculture research and extension systems.

The financial management of agricultural research, the management of the research institutions and development of appropriate technology transfer strategies also need to be improved. Similarly, extension systems are often under-resourced and use outdated service provision approaches and extension methods.

The Division supports agricultural and rural development by enhancing national agriculture research institutions and agricultural and rural extension services through policy advice, technical support, projects/programmes, studies and workshops.

Thematic website: Research and Extension

Communication and Education

The Division provides advice and technical assistance to Member Nations in identifying communication needs in support of agricultural and rural development initiatives and in applying innovative, cost-effective communication strategies for specific audiences.

In addition, it is supporting education for rural people as a policy approach to reduce the number of food insecure people in the world. This is done in partnership with UNESCO and works through the identification of political, institutional, organisational and individual opportunities and constraints that poor people face in accessing education and training services at all levels of education in both formal and non-formal settings

Thematic website: Communication and Education