The FAO of the United Nations manages FAO AGRIS, its global public information system for agricultural science and technology, supported by a network of over 2,000 contributing institutions worldwide.

While the existing governance model has historically been effective, particularly when the network was smaller, its continued expansion—combined with the evolving scientific publishing landscape—has introduced significant operational and strategic challenges. These include:

• Increased complexity in network coordination and internal management
• Heterogeneity in institutional practices and data submission standards
• Emerging risks related to data reliability, credibility, and integrity
• Institutional transitions, including shifts toward predatory publishing practices
• Challenges in maintaining up-to-date institutional records and focal point continuity

In response, FAO is advancing a multilevel governance approach, comprising complementary mechanisms, instruments, and policies designed to address these challenges in a scalable and context-sensitive manner.

Within this framework, the establishment of a FAO AGRIS Advisory Body is envisaged as a key component to support governance reform and strengthen the system’s credibility and sustainability.

The FAO AGRIS Advisory Body shall serve as a strategic and technical advisory mechanism to support FAO in the review, implementation, and continuous improvement of the FAO AGRIS governance framework, including its multilevel governance model.

The Advisory Body shall:

• Provide strategic guidance on the evolution of FAO AGRIS governance
• Support the development and refinement of governance instruments, including Terms and Conditions and editorial and ethical guidelines
• Advise on mechanisms to enhance data quality, reliability, and trustworthiness
• Contribute to strengthening institutional accountability and network coherence
• Promote alignment with international best practices in scholarly communication and open science

The Advisory Body shall perform the following functions:

4.1 Governance and Policy

• Review and provide recommendations on FAO AGRIS governance structures and policies
• Advise on the implementation of a scalable, multilevel governance model
• Contribute to the periodic review and updating of governance instruments

4.2 Quality Assurance and Data Reliability

• Provide guidance on mechanisms to ensure the credibility, consistency, and reliability of data submitted to FAO AGRIS
• Support the development and refinement of quality assurance processes, including validation, monitoring, and evaluation frameworks
• Advise on tools and approaches for assessing data quality and system performance across the network

4.3 Editorial and Ethical Standards

• Provide expert input into the development of Terms and Conditions, editorial policies, and ethical guidelines governing participation in FAO AGRIS
• Advise on ethical standards and acceptable practices in scholarly communication, including issues related to predatory publishing
• Contribute to the definition and promotion of good practices to guide participating institutions and ensure a shared understanding of expected standards

4.4 Network Management and Sustainability

• Advise on strategies to address institutional eligibility, participation, and transitions
• Provide recommendations to strengthen engagement with participating organizations
• Support mechanisms to ensure regular updating of institutional data and focal points

4.5 Strategic Positioning

• Contribute to positioning FAO AGRIS as a quality-oriented and trusted global data service
• Provide advice on partnerships, visibility, and long-term sustainability

The Advisory Body shall be composed of a diverse group of experts appointed by FAO, including:

• Specialists in agricultural science and knowledge systems
• Experts in scholarly publishing, open access, and bibliometrics
• Professionals in data governance, digital innovation, and information management
• Representatives from FAO AGRIS partner institutions

Due consideration shall be given to geographical balance, gender equity, and institutional diversity.

Members shall serve in their individual capacities.

• The Advisory Body shall conduct its work primarily through virtual modalities
• The Advisory Body shall meet at least once per year in a virtual format; additional virtual consultations may be convened as required
• Inter-sessional work shall be conducted through electronic means, including written consultations and online collaboration platforms
• In exceptional circumstances, meetings may be held in person, subject to FAO’s determination and availability of resources
• Participation in the Advisory Body shall be on a non-remunerated basis, unless otherwise determined by FAO
• The Advisory Body shall operate in an advisory capacity; decision-making authority remains with FAO
• Recommendations shall be made, to the extent possible, by consensus

• Members of the Advisory Body shall be appointed by FAO for a fixed term of two (2) to three (3) years
• Members shall serve for a specified period of time, as defined in their appointment, and may be eligible for renewal for one additional term
• To ensure continuity and institutional memory, membership may be staggered and periodically renewed
• FAO may replace members, as necessary, in the event of resignation, inactivity, or changing organizational needs

• Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh — Susmita Das
• Central Scientific Agricultural Library (CSAL) — Lidia Nikolaevna Pirumova
• Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), China — Xuefu Zhang
• European Diamond Capacity Hub (EDCH), OPERAS Research Infrastructure, Belgium — Johan Rooryck
• Latindex, Argentina — Carlos Norberto Authier
• Redalyc, Mexico — Marco Antonio Estrada Medina
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Ethiopia — Irene Onyancha
• Dag Hammarskjöld Library, United Nations, United States of America — Thanos Giannakopoulos
• Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Spain — Fernanda Peset