Rural people play a significant role for humanity, producing most of the food the world eats while guarding the health of the world’s ecosystems and biodiversity. But rural inhabitants also make up nearly 80 percent of the extreme poor, suffer hunger in vast numbers and are most vulnerable to crisis and disaster. In an increasingly globalised world, rural people are being left behind.The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the essential work carried out by farmers, foresters, fishers, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, rural youth, women and men. Investing in rural people, building markets and infrastructure, boosting access and opportunity is the most effective way to end poverty and hunger in the world, and lay the foundation for a mutually prosperous future. Tackling rural poverty is a prime objective in the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.