The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released the State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2025 report titled “Addressing Land Degradation Across Landholding Scales”.
Key Findings of the Report:
About 20 % of global cropland is showing declining productivity due to human‑induced land degradation (soil erosion, loss of organic carbon, nutrient depletion).
There are large yield gaps (up to around 70 %) in regions like South Asia and Sub‑Saharan Africa, linked to degraded soils and weak resource access.
The report emphasises a hierarchy of action: Avoid → Reduce → Reverse land degradation, and stresses the need for tailored policies (regulatory and incentive‑based) across different land‑holding scales to restore sustainable agrifood systems
About Food and Agriculture Organization:
It was established in 1945.
Headquarter:in Rome, Italy.
It functions as a specialized agency of the United Nations.
Member Countires It has 194 member countries, including the European Union.
Objective: It aims to end hunger, improve nutrition, ensure food security, and promote sustainable agriculture
Flagship Reports:
oState of Food and Agriculture (SOFA)
oState of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)
oState of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA)
oState of the World’s Forests (SOFO)
India and FAO: India is a founding member; FAO supports India’s National Food Security Mission, Soil Health Card Scheme, and Sustainable Land Management initiatives.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
