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Book (stand-alone)
The future of food and agriculture: Trends and challenges
2017

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What will be needed to realize the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition? After shedding light on the nature of the challenges that agriculture and food systems are facing now and throughout the 21st century, the study provides insights into what is at stake and what needs to be done. “Business as usual” is not an option. Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies, and natural resources management are necessary. The present study was undertaken for the quadrennial review of FAO’s strategic framework and for the preparation of the Organization Medium-Term plan 2018-2021. *
Book (series)
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024
###### Financing to end hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms
2024
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Six years from 2030, hunger and food insecurity trends are not yet moving in the right direction to end hunger and food insecurity (SDG Target 2.1) by 2030. The indicators of progress towards global nutrition targets similarly show that the world is not on track to eliminate all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2). Billions of people still lack access to nutritious, safe and sufficient food. Nevertheless, progress in many countries provides hope of the possibility of getting back on track towards hunger and malnutrition eradication. Implementing the policies, investments and legislation needed to revert the current trends of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition requires proper financing for food security and nutrition. Despite a broad agreement on the urgent need to increase financing for food security and nutrition, the same cannot be said for a common understanding regarding how this financing should be defined and tracked. The report provides a long-awaited definition of financing for food security and nutrition and guidance for its implementation. There are recommendations regarding the efficient use of innovative financing tools and reforms to the food security and nutrition financing architecture. Establishing a common definition of financing for food security and nutrition, and methods for its tracking, measurement and implementation, is an important first step towards sustainably increasing the financing flows needed to end hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition, and to ensure access to healthy diets for all, today and tomorrow. *
Book (series)
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024
###### Blue Transformation in action
2024
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The 2024 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture features the Blue Transformation in action, illustrated by activities and initiatives, led by FAO in collaboration with Members, partners and key stakeholders, to integrate aquatic foods into global food security and sustainability, enhance policy advocacy, scientific research and capacity building, disseminate sustainable practices and technological innovations, and support community involvement. Part 1 of this edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture benefits from significant improvements in data collection, analytical and assessment tools and methodologies to present the most up-to-date review of world fisheries and aquaculture production and utilization. Part 2 highlights the role of FAO and its partners to catalyse the transformational changes required to support aquaculture expansion and intensification, effective management of global fisheries and upgrading of aquatic value chains. Part 3 covers the high-impact challenges and opportunities of the untapped potential of utilizing whole fish and by-products to improve food security and nutrition, expounds on the role of aquatic food systems in providing critical climate, biodiversity and environmentally sound solutions, and highlights the importance of their integration into national and multilateral processes. It also presents an outlook on future trends up to 2032 based on projections. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 provides the most up-to-date and evidence-based information, supporting policy, scientific and technical insights on challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping the present and future of the sector, for the benefit of a wide and expanding audience of policymakers, managers, scientists, fishers, farmers, traders, civil society activists and consumers. *
Book (series)
Improving biosecurity through prudent and responsible use of veterinary medicines in aquatic food production
2012
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The current trend towards increasing intensification and diversification of global aquaculture has lead to its dramatic growth, thus making aquaculture an important food-producing sector that provides an essential source of aquatic protein for a growing human population. For both developed and developing countries, the sector is recognized as creator of jobs and an important source of foreign export earnings. The expansion of commercial aquaculture, as is the case in commercial livestock and pou ltry production, has necessitated the routine use of veterinary medicines to prevent and treat disease outbreaks due to pathogens, assure healthy stocks and maximize production. The expanded and occasionally irresponsible global movements of live aquatic animals have been accompanied by the transboundary spread of a wide variety of pathogens that have sometimes caused serious damage to aquatic food productivity and resulted in serious pathogens becoming endemic in culture systems and the natura l aquatic environment. The use of appropriate antimicrobial treatments is one of the most effective management responses to emergencies associated with infectious disease epizootics. However, their inappropriate use can lead to problems related to increased frequency of bacterial resistance and the potential transfer of resistance genes in bacteria from the aquatic environment to other bacteria. Injudicious use of antimicrobials has also resulted in the occurrence of their residues in aquacultur e products, and as a consequence, bans by importing countries and associated economic impacts, including market loss have occurred. Since disease emergencies can happen even in well-managed aquaculture operations, careful planning on the use antimicrobials is essential in order to maximize their efficacy and minimize the selection pressure for increased frequencies of resistant variants. The prudent and responsible use of veterinary medicines is an essential component of successful commercial aq uaculture production systems. The FAO/AAHRI Expert Workshop on Improving Biosecurity through Prudent and Responsible Use of Veterinary Medicines in Aquatic Food Production was convened in Bangkok, Thailand from 15 to 18 December 2009, in order to understand the current status of the use of antimicrobials in aquaculture and to discuss the concerns and impacts of their irresponsible use on human health, the aquatic environment and trade. Such discussions became the basis for drafting recommenda tions targeted to the state and private sectors and for developing guiding principles on the responsible use of antimicrobials in aquaculture that will be part of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries Technical Guidelines on Prudent and Responsible Use of Veterinary Medicines in Aquaculture. Since aquaculture is expected to continue to increase its contribution to the world¿s production of aquatic food, offer opportunities to alleviate poverty, increase employment and community de velopment and reduce overexploitation of natural aquatic resources, appropriate guidance to aquaculture stakeholders on the responsible use of veterinary medicines has become essential. Safe and effective veterinary medicines need to be available for efficient aquaculture production, and their use should be in line with established principles on prudent use to safeguard public and animal health. The use of such medicines should be part of national and on-farm biosecurity plans and in accordance with an overall national policy for sustainable aquaculture. This publication is presented in two parts: Part 1 contains 15 technical background papers presented during the expert workshop, contributed by 28 specialists and which served as a basis for the expert workshop deliberations; Part 2 contains the highlights of the expert workshop. *
Document
Non-wood news
###### An information bulletin on Non-Wood Forest Products
2007
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Behind the new-look Non-Wood News is the usual wealth of information from the world of NWFPs. The Special Features section covers two different aspects of NWFPs: a specific product (bamboo) and a developing market (cosmetics and beauty care). Bamboo is versatile: it can be transformed, for example, into textiles, charcoal, vinegar, green plastic or paper and can also be used as a food source, a deodorant, an innovative building material and to fuel power stations. Reports indicate that natural c osmetics and beauty care are a huge global market, with forecasts indicating an annual growth of 9 percent through 2008. The Special Feature on Forest cosmetics: NWFP use in the beauty industry builds on this and includes information industry interest and marketing strategies (consumers are being drawn to natural products and thus their content is emphasized). As can be seen from the articles on shea butter in Africa and thanakha in Myanmar, many societies have always used and benefited from nat ural cosmetics. This issue includes other examples of traditional knowledge, such as the uses of the secretions of a poisonous tree frog in Brazil and the use by the traditional healers in India of allelopathic knowledge.

Recently added

Book (stand-alone)
Rural transformation through agribusiness incubation

The evolving Asian experience

2025
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Agribusiness incubation (ABI) has emerged as a transformative strategy for revitalizing rural livelihoods, engaging youth in agriculture, and promoting sustainable technologies. This publication examines the pivotal role of ABIs in reshaping the agrifood system by providing essential support services and fostering collaboration among smallholder farmers and emerging entrepreneurs. As countries in the Asia Pacific implement diverse ABI models, the successful experiences from the Republic of Korea, India, the Philippines, and Viet Nam offer valuable lessons for addressing rural poverty, attracting youth, and mitigating climate change challenges. By analysing these case studies, this report aims to equip policymakers and stakeholders with insights to establish effective ABIs, thereby promoting inclusive agribusiness and driving rural transformation. Furthermore, the publication contributes to the growing literature on ABIs, underscoring their potential to revolutionize rural and agricultural sectors. Prioritizing the establishment and expansion of ABIs is crucial for fostering sustainable growth and resilience within these communities, ultimately paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable agrifood system. *
Book (stand-alone)
Unveiling the agricultural landscape of the Comoros
###### An analysis of agricultural production and yields
2025
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The Comoros, a small island developing state (SIDS) ranking among the poorest nations in Africa, faces many challenges that make it particularly vulnerable to food insecurity: as an isolated, net food-importing country with a small landmass, limited agricultural land and high exposure to natural disasters, the Comoros' food security is particularly vulnerable to external shocks. While a net food importer, agriculture is a key sector and source of income, contributing 30 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015. This makes the Comoros a rare exception among SIDS. To date, the lack of data on the Comorian agricultural sector has limited the scope of analyses. This study seeks to explore a dataset on agriculture, food security and poverty that was collected in the Comoros throughout 2021. The objective is to provide a preliminary overview of the agricultural sector in the Comoros, particularly agricultural production and crop yields using descriptive statistics. *
Book (series)
Report of the seventh meeting of the Global Record Informal Open-Ended Technical and Advisory Working Group
###### Panama City, Panama, 19 March 2024
2025
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Latin America is at a strategic point in rural development, as recent shocks have exposed deep-rooted challenges in rural policies, particularly regarding inequality and employment. Slow economic recovery, climate change, food system transitions, and rapid technological change further complicate these issues. In response, this paper argues for a new generation of policies focused on three key areas: (i) strategies to protect lives and promote resilient livelihoods, (ii) specialized policies for family farming, and (iii) strategies for rural investments and development planning. It emphasizes that these efforts must prioritize inclusion and avoid reinforcing past inequalities, ensuring the most vulnerable do not bear the brunt of future rural transformations. *
Book (stand-alone)
Comprehensive analysis of disaster risk reduction and management system for agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina
###### Second edition
2025
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This report aims to highlight the current strengths of the institutional disaster risk reduction (DRR) system for agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as indicate existing gaps and capacity needs to further enhance it. A comprehensive assessment is conducted, which includes a general overview of the country’s agricultural sector and outlines the most frequent natural hazards that are impacting the sector. It is followed by an analysis of the existing legal, policy, and institutional structure and discusses various components of the system, including the functioning of early warning systems, assessments of disaster risks, post-disaster needs assessments, including damages and losses assessments, and the availability of agricultural insurance for farmers. It concludes by providing recommendations for capacity-building interventions to strengthen the current system to reduce the adverse impacts of natural hazards, in particular, floods, landslides and droughts, and climate change on agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina.