FAO Knowledge Repository BETA

The FAO Knowledge Repository is FAO's official open repository, providing access to all of its publications. Through its open access policy, FAO seeks to increase the dissemination of its knowledge and to contribute to the scientific and technical impact of the Organization. 

 

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Trending publications

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    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
    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.
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    Book (series)
    The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024
    Blue Transformation in action
    2024
    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.
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    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020
    Key findings
    2020
    This publication contains the main findings of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (FRA 2020). The data in FRA 2020 have been obtained through a transparent, traceable, reporting process and a well- established network of officially nominated national correspondents. The information provided by FRA presents a comprehensive picture of the world's forests and the ways the resource is changing. Such a clear global picture supports the development of sound policies, practices and investements affecting forests and forestry.
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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.
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    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.

Recently added

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    Book (stand-alone)
    Climate Risk Toolbox
    Guiding material for climate risk screening
    2025
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    The Climate Risk Toolbox (CRTB) was developed to support climate-resilient project design. The tool is an open-access resource, hosted on the Hand-in-Hand Geospatial platform, allowing users to obtain a climate-risk screening and report containing climate-resilient measures, crucial to strengthen project formulation at early stages. The CRTB complies with requirements of international financial institutions and can be used by development practitioners for high-level screening at an early stage of planning processes or project design.This guiding material was developed to support users in navigating the online tool, including all the technical specifications behind the tool. This comprehensive document is key to ensuring transparency of data and to strengthening its application by users.
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    Booklet
    Policy incubator on extending social insurance for agriculture workers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region
    Expert group meeting report 24-26 June 2024
    2025
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    As part of their broader efforts to address informality and decent work deficits in the agriculture sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) engaged with practitioners and policymakers in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region to advance the understanding of the institutional, administrative and financial barriers that hinder the inclusion of agricultural workers in social insurance schemes.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Prioriser pour mieux diversifier les exportations du Burkina Faso
    Analyse du potentiel de diversification de seize produits agricoles
    2025
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    Cette étude vise à prioriser les produits agricoles selon leur potentiel à diversifier et accroître les exportations du Burkina Faso. Deux étapes structurent l’analyse: d’abord, la priorisation de 16 produits présélectionnés à partir de six indicateurs de spécialisation et de performance commerciale; ensuite, une analyse approfondie de ces produits, portant sur la dynamique des marchés et les facteurs influençant leur exportation.L'exercice de priorisation distingue quatre groupes de produits selon leur niveau de spécialisation et de performance. Le coton, la mangue, le sésame et le beurre de karité se démarquent comme des produits stratégiques, alliant forte spécialisation et performance commerciale élevée. D'autres, comme la noix de cajou ou les huiles végétales, montrent une spécialisation notable mais une performance encore limitée, suggérant un besoin de diversification des marchés. Les produits à faible spécialisation mais bonne performance (viande, soja, plantes) requièrent des efforts sur la production et la transformation, tandis que ceux en bas de classement (miel, tomates, cuirs) nécessitent des interventions structurelles plus poussées.L’analyse commerciale révèle que, pour 10 des 16 produits, le Burkina Faso perd du terrain face à la concurrence. Toutefois, certains produits, comme l’arachide ou le beurre de karité, enregistrent des gains significatifs de parts de marché. Pour améliorer sa compétitivité, le pays doit cibler des marchés plus dynamiques et surmonter les barrières à l’exportation via des investissements ciblés et une stratégie commerciale adaptée.
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    Booklet
    Towards the institutionalization of forest data
    The importance of data management and sharing
    2025
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    This publication explores how countries can improve forest data governance by institutionalizing data management and sharing within national forest monitoring systems (NFMS). It highlights the importance of high-quality, accessible data for informed decision-making, sustainable forest management and climate action.Through practical examples from Uganda, Ghana, Costa Rica, and others, it outlines key steps to strengthen coordination, adopt digital tools, and ensure data transparency and protection. The publication also showcases FAO’s role in supporting countries with platforms like Open Foris and the Food and Agriculture Microdata (FAM) catalogue.It offers guidance for policymakers, institutions and technical experts to enhance forest data availability, promote collaboration, and build trust through open, reliable, and inclusive data systems.
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    Booklet
    Environmental and Social Standard (ESS 9): Cultural heritage
    Framework for Environmental and Social Management guidance note
    2025
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    Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) 9 focuses on the protection and preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage in FAO-supported programmes and projects. This guidance note provides detailed instructions on how to meet the requirements of ESS 9, ensuring that cultural heritage is safeguarded from damage or inappropriate alteration. It outlines the importance of equitable benefit-sharing when cultural heritage is utilized in FAO initiatives and promotes meaningful consultation with stakeholders to address potential risks. The note also offers tools and suggestions for implementing mitigation measures and management plans to protect cultural heritage during project design and implementation.ESS 9 recognizes the vital role that cultural heritage plays in shaping individual and collective identities, and its importance in sustainable development. Tangible cultural heritage includes physical objects, sites, and landscapes, while intangible heritage encompasses traditions, knowledge, and practices passed down through generations. The standard is grounded in international frameworks like UNESCO’s conventions and aims to protect cultural heritage in line with these agreements. It ensures that communities have a central role in identifying and addressing risks to their heritage, fostering the preservation, transmission, and revitalization of cultural practices and expressions in FAO projects.