The agricultural sector is well-placed to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, also known as the “post-2015 “ development agenda, given the sector’s potential to contribute to increased food security, poverty alleviation and reduced child mortality through better nutrition, among others.

The SDGs emphasize the importance of agriculture and the need to reinvigorate farming worldwide by supporting farmers, increasing investments in research, technology and market infrastructure and extending knowledge sharing. This will catalyse innovation and empower farmers.

Throughout the SDG process, Farming First is bringing the collective voice of farmers, scientists and businesses working in agriculture to the forefront of the dialogue.

Explore our toolkits & infographics related to agriculture & the SDGs:

Why is agriculture so important to the Sustainable Development Goals?

Here’s five reasons to consider:

Investments in agriculture have no parallels in other sectors in terms of the potential to promote food security, nutrition, human development and sustainable economic growth.
Farmers in the developing world can become as productive as those in the developed world —while supporting continuous gains in sustainability for all.
Farmers need to be empowered through greater knowledge sharing and through delivering accessible, quality extension in farm management and marketing.
Agriculture requires supportive frameworks for investment in infrastructure and inclusive markets.
If given the right support, farmers and other stakeholders across the value chain have great potential to address food waste and food loss.

Ahead of the U.N.’s High Level Political Forum in New York, Farming First took an in-depth look at each of the five “targets” within SDG2 on “Ending Hunger”.

Access the #SDG2countdown campaign below with quizzes, infographics & expert views related to each of the five SDG2 targets: