The State of Food and Agriculture 2017: Leveraging Food Systems for Inclusive Rural Transformation

Since the 1990s, rural transformations have helped millions of people to rise out of poverty while remaining in rural areas. This underscores an important fact: revitalizing rural economies helps create jobs for rural people, offering an alternative to those who might turn to migration in search of a better life. For the many rural areas that lag behind, the State of Food and Agriculture 2017 argues that it is not too late. By tapping into the potential of food systems and recognizing the role of small cities and towns in integrated rural-urban planning, inclusive transformations are still possible. Indeed, they will be crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of eradicating poverty and hunger.