Agro-informatics

FAOLEX has been recognized as a Digital Public Good (DPG)

09/09/2024

Building on previous successes like the recognition of the Agricultural Stress Index System (ASIS) as a Digital Public Good (DPG), FAOLEX has now been added to the DPG Registry, bringing our total number of certified FAO DPGs to eight. 

FAOLEX, with its collection of over 200,000 legal documents and policies, is the world’s largest open-access database for food, nutrition, agriculture, and natural resource management. Regularly updated and equipped with advanced search features and comprehensive metadata, FAOLEX is a vital resource with over 5 million views and 3 million users annually, 75% of whom are from the Global South. FAOLEX amplifies its role in disseminating legislative and policy information by functioning as data provider for numerous FAO and IGO portals and offering academics the ability to download the entire FAOLEX dataset for in-depth research analysis. Having met rigorous standards of transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability, FAOLEX continues to develop new digital solutions to support the exploration and understanding of complex legal and policy landscapes. 

"Our recognition as a Digital Public Good, highlights the vital role of legal information in achieving the SDGs and the transformation of agrifood systems. This acknowledgment reflects our decades-long commitment to making legal knowledge widely available and bridging the digital divide. We are determined to further enhance our services, ensuring that no one is left behind in understanding the laws and policies that shape our future", noted Donata Rugarabamu, Legal Counsel, from FAO’s Legal Office. 

Getting FAOLEX certified as a DPG by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) underscores FAO's dedication to creating and sharing tools that make a real difference. This certification is part of FAO's Digital Public Good's First Approach, which focuses on developing scalable, open digital solutions that help communities worldwide tackle big challenges like food security, climate change, and sustainable agriculture. The inclusion of FAOLEX in the DPG registry not only highlights its significance as a trusted resource for legal and policy information but also reinforces FAO's role in advancing global cooperation and digital improvement for sustainable development.  

By championing the creation and dissemination of Digital Public Goods, FAO continues to lead the way in building a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future.