Publications
Publication series
Latest publications
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief No. 56
Policy brief, 2022
This policy brief highlights the main findings of a new methodology to identify geographical areas where, in theory, investments are likely to have big impacts in terms of both agricultural growth and poverty reduction. By...
Available in:English
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 22-12
Working paper, 2022
In this paper, we propose a simple methodology to select a limited number of geographical areas to prioritize for commodity-specific investments in Uganda. Similar to other approaches for prioritizing investments geographically, the basic idea behind...
Available in:English
Leveraging automation in agriculture for transforming agrifood systems
Major report, 2022
The In Brief version of the FAO flagship publication, In Brief to The State of Food and Agriculture 2022, contains the key messages and main points from the publication and is aimed at the media,...
Leveraging agricultural automation for transforming agrifood systems
Major report, 2022
Automation has been shaping world agriculture since the early twentieth century. Motorized mechanization has brought significant benefits in terms of improved productivity, reduced drudgery and more efficient allocation of labour, but also some negative environmental...
Available in:English
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief No. 55
Policy brief, 2022
Motorized mechanization is an important form of agricultural automation and has the capacity to transform agriculture and rural livelihoods. Its benefits have resulted in a substantial increase in mechanization worldwide, although adoption has been uneven...
Available in:English
Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2022. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 22-11
Working paper, 2022
This paper provides an overview of the state of agricultural mechanization across the Global South – i.e. Eastern and South-eastern Asia, Southern Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean – and explores the potentials...
Available in:English
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief No. 54
Policy brief, 2022
The adoption of digital automation technologies in agriculture has been slow despite its potential to enhance the precision of agricultural operations, improve working conditions, and address environmental challenges, while building resilience to shocks and stresses....
Available in:English
Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2022. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 22-10
Working paper, 2022
This working paper investigates the appropriateness of a wide range of digital solutions for agriculture, including in low- and middle-income countries, and, based on available evidence, summarizes the expected (social, economic and environmental) impacts of...
Available in:English
FAO Agricultural Development Economics Policy Brief No. 53
Policy brief, 2022
Agricultural automation reshapes the labour market. In situations of rising wages and labour scarcity, agricultural automation can stimulate employment by allowing producers to expand production and by creating jobs along agrifood systems. Conversely, when labour...
Available in:English
Background paper for The State of Food and Agriculture 2022. FAO Agricultural Development Economics Working Paper 22-09
Working paper, 2022
Understanding the social implications of automation in agriculture, from tractors in low-income countries to high-tech artificial intelligence (AI) solutions found mostly in high-income countries, requires viewing technology change on farms within the broader context of...
Available in:English