Agriculture at a Crossroads - Executive Summary

This executive summary presents a comprehensive, interdisciplinary assessment of how agricultural knowledge, science, and technology (AKST) affect the pursuit of critical global goals: reducing hunger and poverty, improving rural livelihoods and health, and ensuring equitable, sustainable development. Consolidating evidence from global and regional perspectives, the document highlights the urgent need for a shift in agricultural systems to address mounting challenges—such as food insecurity, natural resource depletion, urbanization, and climate change—within increasingly complex social and environmental contexts. The assessment underscores the necessity for integrated approaches that value both formal science and traditional local knowledge, advocating for policy options that foster innovation, equity, and environmental stewardship. It addresses cross-cutting themes, including bioenergy, biotechnology, climate change, trade, and the role of women, emphasizing options for action rather than prescriptive recommendations. Full report is available at: https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/9569