The Agricultural Information System (AGRIS), developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is an international information system designed to facilitate access to agricultural knowledge, research, and data. Its primary purpose is to support the dissemination and exchange of information in agriculture and related disciplines, thereby contributing to global food security, sustainable development, and rural transformation.
AGRIS operates as a global public good that bridges the gap between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in agriculture, food science, environmental management, and rural development. It serves as a centralised database of bibliographic records, enabling users to locate research publications, reports, and policy documents produced by institutions worldwide.
The system’s overarching mission is to promote open access to agricultural information, ensuring that scientific outputs from all regions, particularly from developing countries, are visible, discoverable, and usable. It helps eliminate disparities in knowledge access by aggregating resources from national research centres, universities, and international organisations into a single platform.
Moreover, AGRIS is aligned with FAO’s strategic objectives to improve global agricultural productivity, enhance sustainable resource use, and strengthen knowledge-sharing frameworks among member countries. By providing a digital infrastructure for information exchange, AGRIS plays a crucial role in fostering evidence-based policymaking and innovation in the agricultural sector.
AGRIS was officially established in 1975 under the auspices of the FAO as part of a global initiative to improve agricultural information systems. Its creation reflected the FAO’s recognition of information as a vital resource for agricultural development and food security. Initially launched as a cooperative network of national and international institutions, AGRIS collected and disseminated bibliographic data on agricultural science and technology through print and microfiche formats.
With the advent of the digital era, AGRIS underwent significant technological transformation. In the early 2000s, the system was digitised and made available online, transitioning into an open-access web platform. This evolution allowed it to expand its reach, improve accessibility, and integrate new metadata standards that aligned with global information management practices.
Subsequent updates, particularly the adoption of Linked Open Data (LOD) principles and Semantic Web technologies, have positioned AGRIS as a leading example of open knowledge infrastructure in agriculture. Today, it continues to evolve through international partnerships, incorporating contributions from more than 500 institutions in over 100 countries.