“Business as usual is not an option” was the wake-up call of the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD). Organised by the United Nations and the World Bank, this groundbreaking report by more than 400 scientists called for a paradigm shift in global agricultural policies, research and development.

On the occasion of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), www.globalagriculture.org makes available the IAASTD’s findings by topics and offers updated figures, background information, further reading and news. Users can conveniently browse and search the 2,000 pages of the original reports. Scientific and institutional follow-up reports are presented, including new topics such as land-grabbing and food speculation.

“Agriculture must be at the core of all discussions about sustainability in Rio”, said Biovision’s president Hans Herren, who co-chaired the IAASTD and co-ordinated the chapter on agriculture in UNEP’s recent Green Economy report . On www.globalagriculture.org a special page reflects the discussion on food and agriculture in the run-up to Rio+20.