As access to agricultural research continues to expand, ensuring the reliability and credibility of shared knowledge becomes increasingly important. FAO AGRIS plays a key role in this landscape by aggregating and indexing agricultural and related research from institutions worldwide, supporting evidence-based decision-making across agrifood systems.

To reinforce this role, FAO AGRIS has updated the guidance on its Join and Contribute pages to clearly explain how institutional verification and data responsibility are applied across the platform. The updates are intended to enhance transparency for both current and prospective data providers, while supporting the long-term quality, trustworthiness, and interoperability of FAO AGRIS data.

FAO AGRIS applies verification steps to confirm the identity and authenticity of institutions applying to join the network. This process helps ensure that content originates from reputable and recognized organizations engaged in research, education, or knowledge dissemination. In line with practices commonly used in scholarly publishing, FAO AGRIS may also consult trusted  experts within the applicant's country as part of this verification process.

At the same time, the updated guidance reaffirms that participating institutions remain responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and standards compliance of the metadata and records they contribute. Maintaining high-quality metadata is essential for improving discoverability, enabling reuse, and supporting interoperability across systems.

By clearly outlining shared responsibilities, FAO AGRIS strengthens trust across its global data provider network and promotes consistent, responsible data practices. These updates help ensure that FAO AGRIS continues to function as a reliable open-access repository for food and agriculture science, aligned with FAO’s mandate to promote transparent, accessible, and evidence-based knowledge worldwide.