Smart Net-Zero

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) | Source | Report |

This FAO's flagship report 2025 edition argues that land, soil, and water pressures are now a central constraint on agrifood system sustainability. It notes that more than 60% of human-induced land degradation occurs on agricultural land and that agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater withdrawal. Against this backdrop, it examines how land degradation, water scarcity, and climate change are affecting productivity and ecosystems, while also highlighting untapped opportunities to produce more and better by safeguarding finite resources. Meeting future demand by 2050 will require agriculture to produce around 50% more food, feed, and fibre than in 2012, placing additional pressure on resources already under severe strain. FAO emphasizes integrated land, soil, and water management and identifies the enabling conditions needed to scale sustainable solutions with lasting impact. The report serves as a "roadmap" for decision-makers seeking to balance improved food production with ecosystem health, underscoring how integrated management practices are essential to building efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.