In every region of the world, landscapes are being transformed. Rural people are migrating to urban centres in search of economic and social opportunities while city dwellers are becoming interested in producing their own food and moving outside the centres to be able to appreciate nature. These changes in lifestyles have implications for the food system and nutritional status of populations.

This publication presents guidelines originally published in 1985 as FAO Investment Technical Paper No. 1 and revised in 1995 as Technical Paper No. 7. This 2005 web PDF version generally follows the 1995 print edition, but includes several updated sections. These guidelines have been prepared to help in the design of agricultural investment projects in developing countries.

Les villes des pays en développement connaissent une croissance rapide. Ce processus est souvent accompagné de niveaux élevés de pauvreté et de faim qui poussent beaucoup d'habitants urbains à entreprendre des activités agricoles pour satisfaire leurs besoins alimentaires. Les décideurs doivent être conscients de cette réalité et tirer parti des possibilités offertes par l'agriculture urbaine.

A report of the proceedings of the October 2001 regional consultation on the above theme, the document explains the urgent need for arresting and reversing the decline in investment in land and water development in Asia-Pacific countries. Land and water investment priorities include coping with worsening land degradation, increasing productivity of the region’s large rainfed areas and modernising wasteful water delivery and irrigation systems.

This publications provides information about the 1990 World Census of Agriculture. It is aimed to assist countries in planning, developing and operating the statistical component of a national information system for food and agriculture.

《2008年粮食及农业状况》探讨了近年来建立在农产品基础之上的生物燃料生产快速增长所带来的影响。液态生物燃料的兴旺很大程度上是发达国家的政策导致的，因为预期液态生物燃料会对气候变化减缓、能源安全和农业发展做出积极贡献。生产生物燃料对农产品日益增长的需求正对农产品市场产生重大反响，人们日益关注它们对全球亿万人口的粮食安全造成的负面影响。同时，生物燃料对环境的影响也正在得到密切的审视。然而，如果执行适当的政策并进行恰当的投资，生物燃料也为农业和农村发展提供机遇。本报告考察了就生物燃料争论的现状以及关于这些重要问题的现有证据。报告发现，如果要减少与生物燃料相关的风险并更加广范地共享机遇的话，必须在政策改革和农业投资方面做出协调一致的努力。

Los bosques y los árboles respaldan la agricultura sostenible. Estabilizan los suelos y el clima, regulan los flujos de agua, ofrecen sombra y refugio y proporcionan un hábitat a los polinizadores y los depredadores naturales de plagas agrícolas. Asimismo, contribuyen a la seguridad alimentaria de cientos de millones de personas, para quienes constituyen fuentes importantes de alimentos, energía e ingresos. Sin embargo, la agricultura sigue siendo el principal factor de la deforestación a nivel mundial y, a menudo, las políticas agrícolas, forestales y de tierras no casan.

В док ладе 2008 год а о Положении дел в области продовольствия и сельского хозяйства рассматриваются последствия недавнего стремительного роста производства биотоплива на основе сельскохозяйственной продукции. Бум в области жидкого биотоплива в значительной степени обусловлен политикой развитых стран, основанной на представлении о том, что биотопливо внесет позитивный вклад в смягчение последствий изменения климата, достижение энергетической безопасности и развитие сельского хозяйства.

到2050年，全球范围内的粮食产量预计需要再递增70%左右，而在发展中国家这一比例将近100%。面对粮食增产的这一需求，再加上其他领域需求的争夺，使全球许多农业生产系统纷纷置于前所未有的压力之下。这些“濒临系统”正处于愈演愈烈的水土资源大战之中，而且还经常受到不可持续的农耕方式的掣肘。因此，需要对其特别注意并采取具体的救助措施。《世界粮食和农业领域土地及水资源状况》（SOLAW）就这些高危领域如何克服制约因素并改善资源管理探讨了多种方案。在每一个领域，除了要在制度和政策上作出一些列调整外，还必须将其与扩大技术应用结合起来，以获得更好的水土资源管理效果。另外，加大投资力度、提供新型融资机制以及开展国际合作与开发援助也有助于克服这些制约因素。本书作为《世界粮食和农业领域土地及水资源状况》第一期，是对联合国粮食及农业组织出版的其他“世界状况”类报告的一个补充，其旨在揭示国家与国际层面上的论争和决策情况。

This guide on Gender and access to land has been prepared to support land administrators in governments and their counterparts in civil society who are involved in land access and land administration questions in rural development. It is frequently the case that gender issues are left out or misunderstood in such situations, often with negative results. This guide is designed to show where and why gender inclusion is important in projects and programmes that aim at improving land tenure and land administration arrangements.

An international journal of forestry and forest industries