To be published every 3 to 5 years, 'The State of the World's Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture' is targeted at senior decision makers in agriculture and related sectors. It aims to sensitize them on the status of the global land/ water resource base. It would also communicate FAO’s policy analysis, which would focus on  (i) quantity, quality of land and water resources (ii) the rate of use and sustainable management of these resources in the context of relevant socio-economic driving factors and concerns, including food security and poverty, and climate change.

The report is a first in terms of providing a global, baseline status on land and water resources. It is based on FAO’s globally recognised spatial databases and deals with land/ water issues in an integrated (rather than a sectoral) manner.

The summary report can be downloaded for free. The full report can be ordered from Earthscan UK.