Agriculture stands as one of humanity’s most transformative achievements. It has enabled the rise of civilizations, sustained growing populations, and shaped the landscapes we depend on today. It is a testament to our collective ingenuity, cooperation and capacity to adapt.
Yet, the very success of agriculture has brought new challenges. The land that has long sustained us is now under pressure. Agricultural expansion remains the leading driver of global deforestation. In some regions, cropland continues to expand at the expense of forests and rangelands, while in others, land is being abandoned due to degradation. Today, nearly 1.7 billion people live in areas where land degradation contributes to yield losses and food insecurity. These impacts are unevenly distributed: in high-income countries, degradation is often masked by intensive input use, while in low-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, yield gaps are driven by limited access to inputs, credit and markets. The convergence of degraded land, poverty and malnutrition creates vulnerability hotspots that demand urgent, targeted and comprehensive responses.
This year’s State of Food and Agriculture report focuses on land degradation – a growing threat to agricultural productivity, food security and ecosystem resilience. It presents new evidence on the economic costs of degradation and the potential for recovery across all scales of agricultural production. From smallholders managing marginal plots to large-scale commercial farms operating vast swathes of land, the report highlights how targeted investments and sustainable practices can contribute to land productivity and strengthen the resilience of agrifood systems. The report also provides updated global estimates on farm numbers and land distribution, offering new insights into who is producing what.
Of the approximately 570 million farms worldwide, 85 percent are smaller than 2 hectares, yet they operate just 9 percent of agricultural land. In contrast, farms over 1 000 hectares represent only 0.1 percent of all farms but manage half of the world’s farmland. Despite persistent constraints, nearly 500 million smallholders contribute significantly to global food supply. At the same time, larger farms – particularly those exceeding 50 hectares – have a disproportionate influence on land use and food provision, positioning them as key actors in the global response to land degradation. These patterns underscore the need for differentiated strategies that reflect the diversity of land users and their roles in shaping sustainable agrifood systems.
Encouragingly, the report offers a message of hope. Reversing land degradation on existing croplands through sustainable land use and management could close yield gaps to support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of producers. Additionally, restoring abandoned cropland could feed hundreds of millions more people. These findings represent real opportunities to improve food security, reduce pressure on natural ecosystems, and build more resilient agrifood systems.
To seize these opportunities, we must act decisively. Sustainable land management requires enabling environments that support long-term investment, innovation and stewardship. Secure land tenure – for both individuals and communities – is essential. When land users have confidence in their rights, they are more likely to invest in soil conservation, crop diversity and productivity. Yet, gender disparities persist. In many countries, women remain less likely to hold secure land rights, despite evidence that empowering women leads to better outcomes for households and ecosystems.
Policy instruments must be tailored to context. Regulatory approaches such as land-use zoning and conservation mandates are essential, but their effectiveness can be enhanced by incentive-based mechanisms and cross-compliance schemes. Agri-environmental payments and conditional support can align private incentives with public benefits – but only if they are economically viable and well targeted.
At FAO, we are committed to supporting Members in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through innovation, partnerships and targeted investment, we can transform agriculture into a force for regeneration – delivering on the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.
In 2025, FAO is reaffirming its commitment to sustainable land management. This edition of The State of Food and Agriculture is part of this commitment to provide a comprehensive evidence base to guide policy, investment and action at all levels.
The land has sustained us for millennia. Now, it is our turn to care for it – wisely, justly and together for a better food-secure future for generations to come.
Qu Dongyu
FAO Director-General
