A joint FAO/CDE publication examines one of the least-known environments in the world. Dryland mountains are of great strategic value to regional and global development – they provide 90% of the freshwater supply to surrounding dry lowlands – and yet they are often overlooked by decision- and policymakers.

fuelled by the turbulence of world agricultural markets, the debate on relations among agriculture, food security, natural resources, population growth and economic development has been revamped over the last few years.

This paper examines the interaction of urban and rural food systems, not as separate systems, but as two complementary sides of the food systems everywhere that are a continuum between urban and rural landscapes and actors.

A healthy ecosystem can provide a variety of crucial services for public goods, such as clean water, nutrient cycling, climate regulation and food security services that contribute directly or indirectly to human well-being. Yet today, many ecosystems are in decline; this is of particular importance to agriculture, which depends on ecosystem services.

This report represents the proceedings of the FAO international technical conference dedicated to Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010.

The FAO has released a report titled "Reforming Forest Tenure: Issues, Principles and Process," which reviews current status and challenges related to tenure of forested lands, and lists ten principles for reform.

The study highlights the losses occurring along the entire food chain, and makes assessments of their magnitude. Further, it identifies causes of food losses and possible ways of preventing them. The results of the study suggest that roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost

The FAO Global Information and Early Warning System has released the latest Global Food Price Monitor, citing an increase in the FAO Cereal Price Index in April. Global prices of wheat and maize increased sharply last month, while global rice prices continued to decline.

A report by top international food security experts urges the Group of 20 leading economies to tackle food price volatility by reforming biofuel policies, curbing the use of agricultural export restrictions, and rebuilding emergency food reserves.