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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    Booklet
    Anticipatory action: Annual report 2023 2024
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    In 2023, about 281 million people in 59 countries faced high levels of acute food insecurity, marking the fifth consecutive year of rising humanitarian needs. Weather extremes were the main driver of food crises in 18 of these countries, and affected the food security of almost 72 million people. Such worrying trends, combined with strained resources, call for scaling up innovative approaches, such as anticipatory action, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of support provided to vulnerable agriculture-dependent households.This annual report highlights the proactive measures that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) takes to safeguard agricultural livelihoods and food security against forecast hazards and shocks. In 2023, FAO's anticipatory actions reached over 2 million people across 24 countries, focusing especially on mitigating the effects of El Niño-induced floods and droughts globally. This included the provision of tailored early warnings, trainings, drought-tolerant seeds, animal health support, and conditional and unconditional cash transfers, which have helped farmers and herders keep their animals healthy, sustain agricultural production and safeguard their food security ahead of climate extremes.FAO’s regional and national efforts – closely coordinated with partners at all levels – have been instrumental in establishing and implementing anticipatory action frameworks. In 2023, FAO was engaged in 29 anticipatory action protocols serving as effective tools to monitor priority risks and to inform timely interventions ahead of disasters.The report also emphasizes the need for pre-arranged, flexible financing to ensure timely anticipatory action implementation, and highlights successful collaborations with governments, international organizations and local communities. Looking forward, FAO aims to expand its anticipatory action reach, improve early warning systems and strengthen partnerships in the face of food crises.
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    Book (series)
    An Overview on How Sustainability is Addressed in Official Bioeconomy Strategies at International, National and Regional Levels 2016
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    This report provides an overview of about twenty bioeconomy strategies, at international , national and sub-national levels. It analyses how these strategies have addressed sustainability issues. The report also provides a brief discussion on approaches used to develop bioeconomy strategies. Finally, it also discusses the action plans of 10 action plans related to some of these strategies,and some comncluding remarks.
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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)
    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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    Policy brief
    Ticks and tactics to tackle resistance: investing in the future of livestock
    Policy brief
    2025
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    Arthropod pests, including vectors and the diseases they transmit, pose a significant threat to both the agri-food and health sectors, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative efforts. Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect 80 percent of the world’s livestock, resulting in a global economic loss estimated between 22 to 30 billion dollars each year. Preparedness for vector and vector-borne threats, particularly in the context of climate change, must be supported by reliable diagnostic tools for resistance and robust integrated surveillance systems. Integrated tick management, which combines both chemical and non-chemical methods, is essential for achieving sustainable tick control and addressing the growing problem of acaricide resistance. Promoting the responsible use of acaricides and best practices will be key, supported by strengthening relevant structures and capacities. Investment in research and development, along with the adaptation of regulations, is critical to fostering innovation and driving progress in the future.
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    Policy brief
    Strategic dialogue on cooperative development for rural and agrifood systems transformation in the Near East and North Africa region
    Policy brief
    2025
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    Agricultural cooperatives and other forms of collective action are key to addressing challenges faced by small-scale family farmers in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. Despite their importance, efforts to support them remain fragmented. In response, FAO RNE, in collaboration with ICA Asia-Pacific and ICA Africa, launched a regional initiative to strengthen government–cooperative dialogue and foster a more enabling environment. As part of this effort, the Strategic Dialogue on Cooperative Development, held in Casablanca in January 2025, brought together stakeholders to share knowledge, explore policy reforms, and enhance the role of cooperatives in transforming agrifood systems, advancing food security, and promoting sustainable rural development in the region.
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    Book (series)
    Report of the thirteenth meeting of the RECOFI Working Group on Fisheries Management, Virtual meeting, 9–10 October 2023 2025
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    The thirteenth meeting of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) Working Group on Fisheries Management (WGFM) was held from 9 to 10 October 2023, virtually. The meeting was convened by RECOFI and FAO and attended by 30 participants from all eight RECOFI member countries: Kingdom of Bahrain, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Iraq, State of Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The WGFM discussed a number of matters, including illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change and fisheries management in RECOFI, progress on the Recommendation RECOFI/6/2011/1 Minimum Data Reporting in the RECOFI area as well as progress on the RECOFI Recommendation (RECOFI/X/2019/1) on the Assessment and Management of Kingfish (Scomberomorus commerson) stocks in the RECOFI Area. Further. The outcomes of the RECOFI Workshop series: minimum data reporting regional database, RECOFI-FIRMS Stocks and fisheries inventories, and UN Sustainable Development Goals indicator 14.4.1: proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels were also presented. The meeting agreed on a workplan proposal to be submitted to the upcoming twelfth session of RECOFI.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    Assessing vegetation changes in agriculture and forestry during the conflict in Lebanon – October 2023 to October 2024 2025
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    Lebanon is facing a growing risk of food insecurity due to the conflict that began in October 2023, which threatens the country's agricultural land and assets. This geospatial assessment aims to analyse changes in agricultural land during the baseline period from October 2019 to 7 October 2023, in comparison with October 2024. A land cover map for 2023 was generated using Sentinel-2 imagery (10 m resolution). To assess vegetation loss, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values for October 2024, derived from Landsat 7 and 8 (30 m resolution), were compared with the baseline NDVI. Areas with significant negative deviations in NDVI were identified by initially comparing the average NDVI for October 2024 with the baseline average and standard deviation. High-resolution imagery (VHR) was then used to classify and confirm land cover changes in regions showing notable vegetation loss.
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    Policy brief
    Financing a resilient agrifood future in Palestine
    From aid dependence to inclusive investment
    2025
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    Palestine’s agrifood sector is vital for livelihoods and food security, especially after the October 7 crisis, yet it remains underfunded and heavily reliant on donor aid. Structural barriers—like limited access to land, water, and finance—make private investment difficult. FAO’s Multi-donor Agribusiness Programme shows how grants can unlock private capital. A proposed “finance continuum” blends grants for vulnerable farmers with de-risked loans for growing agribusinesses, supported by safeguards like inclusion and Islamic finance. Key steps include a national agri-finance strategy, scaling blended finance, and building sector-wide capacity—shifting from aid to sustainable, inclusive growth.