#COAG29: A selection of key publications showcasing FAO's work towards agrifood systems transformation

As the 29th Session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) takes place this week, a selection of publications is highlighting the work of FAO in the agrifood sectors to promote the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

For more information on COAG 29, browse the programme.

For further reading, see the FAO Publications catalogue.

The below main themes are featured in the exhibit ‘The interconnected nature of agrifood systems’ taking place at FAO headquarters during COAG 29.

Climate

Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability: A call for action
This report presents the results of a study on agricultural plastic products used globally in a range of different value chains. The study assesses the types and quantities of plastic products, their benefits and the trade-offs.

FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031
Through the Strategy, FAO supports Members in adopting good practices and innovative solutions to address climate resilience, adaptation and mitigation for sustainable agrifood systems.

Bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture. A global opportunity – Position paper
This paper provides recommendations to guide global discussions on the bioeconomy, including leveraging the potential of the bioeconomy to enable holistic carbon management, alleviate pressure on natural resources and address climate change.

More on the topic

• Bioeconomy for a sustainable future
• Action Plan for the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across Agricultural Sectors 2024–2027
• Climate change, biodiversity and nutrition nexus
  

Crops

 International Year of Millets 2023: Final report  (JUST RELEASED)
This report summarizes the objectives, activities, legacy and recommendations from the International Year of Millets 2023, with the aim to continue to promote the sustainable production and consumption of millets.

Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa
Forgotten food crops – indigenous crops and traditional food commodities that are no longer widely consumed – offer a viable pathway to ensuring adequate food intake and dietary diversity, maintaining soil health and achieving climate resilience among African farming communities.

Post-harvest management: bridging gaps and embracing innovations
This report highlights the importance of reducing post-harvest losses in developing countries by integrating gender perspectives, providing support to agribusiness and entrepreneurship, and promoting climate change adaptation. 

More on the topic

• Building sustainable and resilient city region food systems − Assessment and planning handbook
• Pesticide Registration Toolkit brochure
• Locusts and other transboundary plant pests and diseases
  

Livestock

Global assessment of soil carbon in grasslands – From current stock estimates to sequestration potential

Improving management practices in grasslands used for animal grazing can boost the capacity of soil as carbon sink, helping countries reach their climate goals, according to this new report. It shows that assessing the current state of grassland systems and their potential to sequester carbon in the soil is of key importance to understanding the trade-offs between food security, biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.

Reduce the Need for Antimicrobials for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation (RENOFARM). Innovation, technologies and hand-in-hand partnerships to address antimicrobial resistance for healthier agrifood systems
This document sheds light on the RENOFARM initiative, which aims to support countries in reducing the need for antimicrobials in their agrifood systems in a substantial, proportionate and sustainable manner, nonetheless fostering responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials when they are needed while also maintaining or enhancing productivity.

Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes – An evidence and policy overview on the state of knowledge and gaps

Terrestrial animal source food (TASF) provides higher-quality proteins than other foods, so higher dietary intakes of TASF can have positive effects on nutrition, health and cognition. This publication focuses on the downstream impacts of TASF consumption as part of a healthy diet and provides a robust systematic review of the evidence for its contribution to health and nutrition outcomes.

More on the topic

• Pathways towards lower emissions – A global assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation options from livestock agrifood systems
• One Health in Agrifood System Transformation Fund. Safeguarding human, animal, plant and ecosystem health
• A One Health priority research agenda for antimicrobial resistance
  

Land, water and biodiversity

Water tenure assessment (JUST RELEASED)
Managing and using water resources more efficiently and equitably requires understanding the rules and arrangements that govern access to water resources. Water tenure assessment helps to clarify these arrangements, which are based on formal laws as well as customs and traditions. This publication clarifies basic concepts and lays out the six basic steps of a water tenure assessment, from preparation to reporting and validation.

The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture 2021 – Systems at breaking point
The 2021 edition highlights the major risks and trends related to land and water and presents means of resolving competition among users and generating multiple benefits for people and the environment.

State of knowledge of soil biodiversity – Status, challenges and potentialities
The report presents the state of knowledge on soil biodiversity, the threats to it, and the solutions that soil biodiversity can provide to problems in different fields, including agriculture, nutrition and pharmaceuticals.

More on the topic

• Land resource planning for sustainable land management
• The Global Status of Black Soils
• Technical Guide on the Integration of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security into the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation Neutrality

Innovations and technologies

The State of the World’s Forests 2024 – Forest-sector innovations towards a more sustainable future
Through eighteen case studies from around the world, this edition explores the transformative power of evidence-based innovation in the forest sector, ranging from new technologies to creative and successful policies and institutional changes, to new ways of getting finance to forest owners and managers.

Towards digital inclusion in rural transformation
This report sheds light on the factors that lead to digital exclusion, including gaps in access to digital resources and structural inequalities, providing evidence regarding how digital divides play out, and outlining recommendations on how to improve digital inclusion for rural areas and marginalized groups.

Fintech innovation for smallholder agriculture
In rural finance, fintech innovation is viewed as a critical instrument to address constraints to financial inclusion. Among these fintech applications are digital versions of traditional products (e.g. credit, savings and insurance), as well as innovative tech-enabled applications such as crowdlending. This publication reviews some of the most interesting business models and innovations brought forward by companies worldwide.

More on the topic

• Harvesting change: Harnessing emerging technologies and innovations for agrifood system transformation
• Digitalization and child labour in agriculture
• Global investments in agricultural research: Where are we and where are we going?

People

The status of women in agrifood systems
Agrifood systems are a significant source of employment and livelihoods for women – often more so than for men. This report analyses the sources of inequality that constrain women’s participation, well-being and empowerment in the sector. It describes policies and approaches that have supported gender equality, and how women’s equal participation in agrifood systems can transform individual and global outcomes.

The unjust climate – Measuring the impacts of climate change on rural poor, women and youth
This report assembles data from twenty-four countries to measure the effects of climate change on rural women, youths, and people living in poverty. These data enable us to disentangle how different types of climate stressors affect people’s on-farm, off-farm, and total incomes, as well as their labour allocations and adaptive actions, depending on their wealth, gender and age characteristics.

Gender equality and social inclusion for youth organizations – Methodological guidelines
These guidelines help youth organizations better understand gender equality and social inclusion and their importance, offering a step-by-step methodology to self-assess the main gaps and areas for improvement as the basis to embed inclusive approaches in their organizational practice.

More on the topic

• FAO’s work on rural migration – Empowering migrants and rural communities
• Towards digital inclusion in rural transformation
• Social protection as a pathway to sustaining peace