The State of Food and Agriculture 2008 explores the implications of the rapid recent growth in production of biofuels based on agricultural commodities. The boom in liquid biofuels has been largely induced by policies in developed countries, based on their expected positive contributions to…

The story of agricultural policy in Northeast Asia over the past 50 years illustrates the dramatic changes that can occur in distortions to agricultural incentives faced by producers and consumers at different stages of economic development. In this study of Japan, the Republic of Korea (the…

The story of agricultural policy in Northeast Asia over the past 50 years illustrates the dramatic changes that can occur in distortions to agricultural incentives faced by producers and consumers at different stages of economic development. In this study of Japan, the Republic of Korea (the…

With a population of about 1.1 billion, India is expected to overtake China as the world's most populous country by 2030. India's economy ranks as Asia's third largest, after Japan and China, and is now one of the world's fastest growing. While growth has led to significant…

AFA Field Visits and Farmer Interactions 2006-2007

Learning good practices in land reform, organic agriculture and pro-small farmer marketing and trading.

Much is reported about the destruction of natural forests and the consequences for global warming, while on the other hand, exotic plantations in some regions struggle to gain public acceptance. The earth's population is projected to rise to around 9 billion by 2050, with a concomitant…

Meeting symbol/code: COFI/2007/Inf.11

The world’s mangroves 1980–2005 is a thematic study undertaken within the framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. It was led by FAO in collaboration with mangrove specialists throughout the world, and was co-funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). It…

Water is essential for life and plays a key role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. As the population continues to grow and the economy develops, competition for water uses between different users has intensified and induced excessive strain on the environment. Climate change and…

The main aim of this study is to facilitat e access to comprehensive and comparable information on the current and past extent of mangroves in the 124 countries and areas where they are known to exist, highlighting information gaps and providing updated information that may…

Mangroves, commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subropics, fulfil important socio-economic and envioronmental functions: providing wood and non-wood forest products, protecting shores against wind, waves and water currents; conserving biological diversity; protecting…