The Food and Agriculture Microdata (FAM) Catalogue by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a prominent platform for promoting research and analysis by disseminating microdata sets, thus maximizing their value for evidence-based decision making. This platform plays a pivotal role in enhancing data credibility and transparency by hosting and sharing information.
The Food and Agriculture Microdata (FAM) Catalogue compiles datasets from farm and household surveys on agriculture, forests, food security and nutrition. The FAM Catalogue aims to be a comprehensive resource for data collected directly by FAO or with the support of FAO. With microdata already available in the public domain, the FAM Catalogue disseminates the metadata and relevant documentation of the study in line with relevant international standards and provides the link to redirect users to the webpage or platform hosting the microdata. Continuously updated, it welcomes submissions from organizations with relevant data. The FAM Catalogue serves as a one-stop destination for accessing and disseminating crucial forest related data, enhancing transparency and informed decision-making.
The catalog contains 1 427 surveys with over 500 000 variables, 184 countries (November 2024). This platform already contains data from Bangladesh, Brazil, Guatemala, Lao DPR, Mexico and Uganda.
Informed policymaking largely relies on data and information accessibility to potential users. Transparent and reliable information supports forest monitoring processes in countries. Data and analysis need to be technically sound and credible while their interpretation needs to be respective of associated uncertainties. The FAM Catalogue ensures accessibility, credibility and transparency for decision making.
Access to transparent forest data has yielded tangible benefits, transforming forestry practices and decision-making processes worldwide. The following real-world examples showcase various benefits from maximizing the use of accessible and transparent forest data:
Transparent and accessible forest data for informed decisions
Transparent forest data offers publicly accessible forest information. It allows stakeholders to access forest resource data, thus aiding in forest planning, biodiversity monitoring and sustainable forest management practices for informed policy decisions.
Project development and funding opportunities
By establishing a transparent and accessible platform for forestry-related data, associated countries can enhance the formulation and development of well-defined projects. This readily available and credible data fosters donor confidence and facilitates the attraction of potential funding opportunities.
Maximize forest data visibility to ensure return of investment
Forest data is often very complex, time consuming, laborious and costly, while processing and estimating this data are technically demanding. Well-documented, open-access microdata helps to foster the credibility of data-producing institutions on a global scale to maximize the return of this huge investment.
Enhanced sustainability and reduced data loss risks
Data preservation and sustainability are major benefits offered by this platform. The chance of data loss over time while using traditional archival systems are reduced significantly. By providing access to comprehensive forest inventory data, the platform ensures data integrity and long-term preservation.
Identification of data gaps and scope for development
Identifying gaps in information and the appropriate techniques to fill them is a major benefit offered by hosting data in a platform as this. It helps country capacity development, therefore allowing for concentration on areas lacking information and fostering research and innovation for improved forest management.
Resource optimization and cost reduction
By aggregating data in this platform, data duplication is avoided. As a result, resource utilization is optimized and the costs associated with repeated data collection are reduced, ultimately improving efficiency in forestry practices.
Collaboration among different entities
Collaborative efforts from various sources – including governments, non-profit organizations (NGOs) and individuals – facilitates the monitoring and protection of forests globally. Data sharing can help raise recognition and prominence for both data users and producers alike.
National and international reporting needs and data credibility
Transparent forest data plays a pivotal role in meeting national and international reporting needs by making comprehensive forest-related information available. Accessible data allows for transparent validation and verification processes, thus reinforcing the reliability of the reported information.
Country case studies: The FAM catalogue’s role in enhancing data dissemination and transparency
Uganda
The National Biomass Study (2016-2019) of Uganda, hosted in the FAM Catalogue, notably exemplifies the benefits of data sharing on collaboration, transparency and dissemination. This platform has attracted users from various countries, underscoring its international appeal. The users represent diverse groups, including United Nations agencies, NGOs, commercial companies, academia and international organizations, therefore evidencing the platform's ability to cater to a wide range of interests and needs. The landscape of users for this study contains the following highlights:
- 17 unique users indicate the platform's reach and user engagement capability;
- 12 different countries represent the global interest in Uganda's biomass data; and
- 6 user groups demonstrate Uganda’s data versatility across various sectors.
The most common uses of this data are for research, resource mobilization, biomass and carbon estimation, wildlife and forest conservation, policy formation, inventory design and forest management. This data usage has led to diverse outputs, including project formulation, land-use map preparation, scientific journal publications and the development of national level estimates, among others. Such outputs demonstrate how the FAM Catalogue not only facilitates access to critical data, but also fosters a rich environment for diverse applications that entail collaboration, transparency and robustness.