How transformative partnerships can help FAO to better deliver its strategic objectives

03/2024

Global science–policy interfaces related to agrifood systems: a desktop review of structures and common patterns

03/2024

This background paper to the guidance that FAO is developing on strengthening science–policy interfaces (SPIs) for agrifood systems at the national level sets provides information about the structures and patterns common to global SPIs.

Measuring the impacts of climate change on rural poor, women and youth

03/2024

This report assembles an impressive set of data from 24 low- and middle-income countries in five world regions to measure the effects of climate change on rural women, youths and people living in poverty. It analyses socioeconomic data collected from 109 341 rural households (representing over 950 million rural people) in these 24 countries.

Innovating to enable integrated services for innovation to promote urban and peri-urban agriculture

02/2024

Integrated services for innovation and agrifood systems

02/2024

Rural producers frequently handle many products such as different varieties of crops, livestock and/or fisheries, and have little access to integrated services for innovation (ISI). They are a part of complex and dynamic agrifood systems, but often remain marginalized within these systems, having no power to voice their demands and truly benefit from them.

National-level models to support the use of evidence in agrifood systems policy

02/2024

This background paper to the guidance that FAO is developing on strengthening science–policy interfaces at the national level sets out to provide an overview of existing models and activities used for developing and operating science–policy systems and supporting the use of evidence, to transform global agrifood systems.

Fintech innovation for smallholder agriculture

01/2024

The study is a result of the growing interest on the part of FAO on the analysis and use of financial technology (fintech) applications as effective enablers of financial inclusion for smallholder farmers, as well as that of other financially underserved actors active in the agricultural value chains of developing and emerging countries.

Water–energy–food–health nexus in Lebanon

01/2024

This study used a water–energy–food system-of-systems assessment to evaluate the sustainability of the Mediterranean diet in Lebanon.

Global investments in agricultural research: Where are we and where are we going?

12/2023

Well-funded agricultural research and development (R&D) systems play an important role in transforming agrifood systems and helping countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The advantages of investing in agricultural R&D are also clear from looking at the past, where a wide range of studies have clearly demonstrated the substantial benefits that resulted from investments in agricultural R&D.

FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2023: Science and innovation for climate action - Summary report

12/2023

This comprehensive report provides an overview of the objectives, speakers, and outcomes of each session of the second edition of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum (SIF) 2023. The SIF, a pivotal component of the annual flagship World Food Forum, unfolded from 18 to 20 October 2023 at FAO headquarters.

Harvesting change: Harnessing emerging technologies and innovations for agrifood system transformation

12/2023

FAO’s Office of Innovation is working with partners on an FAO Chief Scientist initiative on Foresight on emerging agrifood technologies and innovations, aligned with the UN 2.0 process and the FOFA 2022: engaging all key actors of agricultural innovation systems in the foresight on emerging technologies and innovations to better prepare for alternative futures, feeding it into anticipatory action, and convening the global community for constructive dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Revealing the true cost of food to transform agrifood systems

11/2023

The State of Food and Agriculture 2023 looks into the true cost of food for sustainable agrifood systems. The report introduces the concept of hidden environmental, health and social costs and benefits of agrifood systems and proposes an approach – true cost accounting (TCA) – to assess them.

The Action Plan 2022–2025 for the implementation of the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy

10/2023

The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy Action Plan (2022-25) provides a common framework for FAO action at the country, sub-regional, regional and global levels. The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy is a tool to support the delivery of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 and hence the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategy’s Action Plan is a living document covering four years (2022–25), and it will be updated, as needed, to reflect new needs, opportunities and challenges.

Using artificial intelligence to assess FAO’s knowledge base on the technology accelerator

09/2023

This report examines the technology accelerator trends across publicly available FAO knowledge reports, technical guidance and convening summaries.

Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum

07/2023

This report provides an update on global progress towards the targets of ending hunger (SDG Target 2.1) and all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2) and estimates on the number of people who are unable to afford a healthy diet.

Digitalization and child labour in agriculture

06/2023

This paper is the product of a collaboration between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Wageningen University and Research (WUR) to explore the potential application of innovative technologies to improve data collection and risk estimation of child labour in the cocoa sector.

The status of women in agrifood systems

04/2023

Guide on digital agricultural extension and advisory services – Use of smartphone applications by smallholder farmers

04/2023

Pro-Sahel – Innovation and technology in small-scale irrigation systems for small-scale producers in the Sahel

02/2023

Gene editing and agrifood systems

12/2022