Celebrating 50 Years of AGRIS: Embracing the Digital Age
09/05/2025

As part of the ongoing celebrations for FAO's 80th Anniversary, we are thrilled to commemorate another significant milestone: the 50th anniversary of the International System for Agricultural Science and Technology (AGRIS). This momentous occasion highlights AGRIS's evolution into the digital age and its pivotal role in modernizing access to agricultural science research.
A Journey Through Time
Since its inception in 1975, AGRIS has been at the forefront of agricultural information management. Initially a paper-based system, AGRIS has transformed into a comprehensive digital platform, providing open access to over 15 million records. This evolution reflects AGRIS's commitment to adapting to technological advancements and meeting the growing needs of the global agricultural community.
Digital Transformation and Modernization
The digital age has revolutionized how we access and share information, and AGRIS has been a key player in this transformation, enabling seamless integration with other information systems and utilizing Semantic Web capabilities to connect related content across the web. The upgraded IT architecture provides near real-time indexing of metadata, flexible submission options, and improved curation capabilities, making AGRIS an efficient and powerful tool for data providers and users alike.
AGRIS 2.0 Launch
In 2023, AGRIS took a significant leap forward with the launch of AGRIS 2.0, revolutionizing the way users access agricultural data. The new user interface, available in all six official FAO languages, offers a more intuitive and user-friendly search experience, resembling popular search engines. Users can perform searches effortlessly, with advanced filters readily accessible for refined queries. The search results page features clearly demarcated filters, allowing users to narrow results by publication date, language, data provider, country, and AGROVOC search terms, with multilingual titles and abstracts enhancing accessibility.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate AGRIS's 50th anniversary, we look forward to its continued growth and impact. The platform's ongoing development and commitment to digital innovation will ensure that it remains a cornerstone of agricultural knowledge sharing for years to come. By embracing the digital age, AGRIS is well-positioned to support the global agricultural community in addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Join the Celebration
We invite you to explore the rich history and achievements of AGRIS as part of the FAO80 exhibit at headquarters. The exhibit offers a compelling look into the milestones that have shaped FAO and its initiatives, including the evolution of AGRIS. As we approach FAO’s 80th birthday on World Food Day, the exhibit will continue to grow, showcasing the impactful work of FAO's technical divisions and offices worldwide.