Research institutions play a vital role in generating knowledge to address global challenges in agriculture, food security, and sustainable development. However, producing research is only part of the mission. Ensuring that this knowledge is visible, accessible, and reusable is equally important. Contributing to FAO AGRIS offers institutions a practical and effective way to maximize the value and impact of their research outputs.

Increased Visibility and Global Reach

One of the main benefits of contributing to FAO AGRIS is increased visibility. FAO AGRIS is a globally recognized platform used by researchers, students, policymakers, and development practitioners worldwide. By sharing metadata through FAO AGRIS, institutions ensure that their publications can be discovered beyond local repositories or national boundaries.

This increased visibility is particularly valuable for institutions whose research is underrepresented in commercial databases or published in local languages.

Greater Impact of Research Outputs

When research outputs are easier to find, they are more likely to be read, cited, and used. FAO AGRIS helps connect institutional research to a wider audience, increasing the potential for collaboration, policy influence, and practical application.

For institutions, this means that reports, theses, and technical documents—often overlooked in traditional publishing channels—can gain new relevance and impact.

Support for Open Access and Knowledge Sharing

FAO AGRIS promotes open access principles by linking to freely available full texts whenever possible. Contributing institutions demonstrate their commitment to open and equitable knowledge sharing, aligning with FAO-led initiatives and international efforts to improve access to agricultural knowledge.

This is especially important in agriculture, where timely access to knowledge can directly support farmers, extension services, and policymakers.

Improved Metadata Quality and Standards

Participation in FAO AGRIS encourages institutions to adopt international metadata standards and best practices. The use of controlled vocabularies such as AGROVOC improves consistency, searchability, and interoperability across systems.

Over time, this contributes to stronger internal information management processes and higher-quality institutional repositories.

Capacity Building and Institutional Learning

Contributing to FAO AGRIS is also a capacity-building opportunity. Institutions develop skills in metadata creation, repository management, and digital knowledge dissemination. Engagement with the FAO AGRIS network provides access to guidelines, training materials, and a community of practice addressing similar challenges.

These benefits extend beyond FAO AGRIS and strengthen institutional information services more broadly.

Contribution to a Global Public Good

By sharing metadata through FAO AGRIS, institutions contribute to a global public good managed by FAO. This collective effort supports a more inclusive and balanced agricultural knowledge ecosystem, ensuring that research from all regions can be discovered and used.

Participation in FAO AGRIS allows institutions to move from isolated knowledge producers to active contributors to global knowledge solutions.

What Next

Contributing to FAO AGRIS offers clear and tangible benefits for institutions: increased visibility, greater research impact, improved metadata quality, and strengthened institutional capacity. At the same time, it supports open and inclusive access to agricultural knowledge at the global level.

For institutions committed to maximizing the value of their agricultural research, FAO AGRIS provides a trusted platform to connect local knowledge with global needs.