For 80 years, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has led international efforts to end hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Central to this mission has been the collection, sharing, and application of agricultural knowledge. Fifty years ago, that same vision inspired the creation of the International System for Agricultural Science and Technology (AGRIS). Today, known as FAO AGRIS, it stands as a vital global platform connecting science, policy, and practice across 168 countries. Together, FAO and FAO AGRIS continue to turn knowledge into action for a food-secure and sustainable future.

• FAO established in 1945: Building the foundations of global agricultural cooperation

When FAO was established in 1945, the world faced urgent challenges of hunger and food insecurity in the aftermath of global conflict. The Organization’s founding constitution articulated its core functions: to collect, analyse and disseminate agricultural information; to promote and coordinate agricultural research; to improve production, processing, and trade; and to support the formulation of national and international policies on food and agriculture.

• 1975: The creation of FAO AGRIS — transforming FAO’s knowledge vision into a global system

In 1975, to advance the vision set out in its founding constitution, FAO created AGRIS. FAO AGRIS was designed to bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that scientific findings and innovations in food, agriculture, and rural development were widely accessible to all who could benefit from them.

At its inception, FAO AGRIS served as a global bibliographic index to capture and catalogue agricultural publications from around the world. By linking diverse sources of information, FAO AGRIS became an invaluable tool for researchers, policymakers, and institutions seeking to understand and address food and agricultural challenges.

• From paper to digital: A global knowledge network across 168 countries

Over the past five decades, FAO AGRIS has evolved from a paper-based index into a dynamic, open-access database and international network. Today, FAO AGRIS connects a community of scientists, students, policymakers, and practitioners in 168 countries, providing access to millions of bibliographic records and full-text resources.

Its digital transformation reflects FAO’s broader commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and open data. FAO AGRIS continues to enhance the visibility and impact of agricultural science, helping to bridge information gaps and empowering communities with knowledge that drives sustainable development.

• FAO AGRIS at 50: Strengthening knowledge for the Sustainable Development Goals

As FAO AGRIS marks its 50th anniversary, it reaffirms its role as an integral part of FAO’s global knowledge ecosystem. The recent transition to the name “FAO AGRIS” symbolises this connection and shared commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By promoting open, reliable, and inclusive access to agricultural information, FAO AGRIS continues to uphold the founding principles of FAO.

FAO and FAO AGRIS celebrate two milestones and continue to work towards the same goal -  to end hunger and malnutrition, and to promote The Four Betters - Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better Life  - leaving no one behind.