FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO)

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025. Addressing high food price inflation for food security and nutrition. Rome: FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO 2025; 234 p. ISBN 978-92-5-139937-8. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 highlights how elevated inflation in many countries has undermined purchasing power and, especially among low-income populations, access to healthy diets. The report documents how high food price inflation is associated with increases in food insecurity and child malnutrition. Vulnerable groups, including low-income households, women, and rural communities, can be particularly affected by food price inflation, risking setbacks in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. In response to these challenges and to prevent future price shocks, the report examines policy measures adopted by countries, and outlines what is necessary going forwards. It stresses the importance of coherent implementation of fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize markets, promote open and resilient trade, and protect vulnerable populations. Additionally, it calls for better data systems and sustained investment in resilient agrifood systems to build long-term food security and nutrition. These coordinated actions are vital to reignite progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition by 2030.

OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034. Paris and Rome: FAO and OECD 2025; 166 p. ISBN 978-92-5-139957-6. The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034 provides a comprehensive assessment of the ten-year prospects for agricultural commodity and fish markets at national, regional, and global levels. Jointly produced by the OECD and FAO, in collaboration with their Members and international commodity organisations, the Outlook serves as a forward-looking reference to support evidence-based policy planning. This 21st edition examines the evolving landscape of global agriculture in the face of economic, political and environmental challenges and comprises three parts: part 1 outlining key projections and insights on challenges facing agrifood systems over the coming decade; part 2 describing recent market developments and medium-term projections for consumption, production, trade, and prices for the commodities covered in the Outlook; and part 3, a Statistical Annex, which presents projections for production, consumption, trade, and prices for agricultural commodities, fish, and biofuels, as well as macroeconomic and policy assumptions.

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COUNCIL (ISC)

Data and AI for Science. Key considerations. Paris: International Science Council 2025; 30 p. This paper provides an overview of the technical, ethical and environmental factors to consider when preparing scientific data for artificial intelligence (AI), and how these factors align with the ‘Open Science’ movement. The information presented is relevant to researchers, data practitioners, scientific bodies and policymakers for science. The first section introduces the foundational concepts and discusses the advantages and challenges of making scientific data AI-ready. The second section examines the key considerations for data readiness for AI, and conversely, AI to curate data. The third section discusses data readiness within the framework of Open Science, presents two case studies that illustrate how Open Science practices can support AI-readiness for scientific research.

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)

Climate Technology Progress Report 2025. Advancing biobased technologies in the bioeconomy. Copenhagen: United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre 2025; 116 p. This Report examines how advancing the climate and nature agenda through the integration of technology and sustainable biobased solutions can offer a comprehensive and cost-effective pathway to achieving both objectives simultaneously. It emphasizes the importance of protecting and restoring ecosystems, halting deforestation, and investing in joint mitigation and adaptation approaches highlighting the key roles of both domestic policies, including clear and inclusive regulatory and legal frameworks, and international cooperation and financing. Structured to provide both global and regional perspectives, the report’s hybrid format reflects the diversity of challenges and opportunities across geographies. The report is intended as a resource for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to advance integrated, effective, and equitable climate and nature action in the lead-up to COP 30 and beyond.

Sustainable Procurement Guidelines for Data Centres and Servers. Paris: United Nations Environment Programme 2025; 77 p. ISBN: 978-92-807-4221-3. Data centres in developing countries are set to grow rapidly due to economic expansion, rising data demand and increasing data sovereignty needs. However, these facilities are highly energy intensive. Despite efficiency improvements, regulations remain insufficient, with the EU still drafting its first Data Centre Regulation. UNEP’s United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative has developed this set of technical specifications as a reference for establishing requirements for the procurement of data centres. These guidelines are designed to help organisations set robust criteria and processes that improve the energy efficiency of their current or upcoming facilities. They offer recommendations on several key performance criteria and operating conditions that are most relevant and impactful for selecting energy-efficient data centres and computer servers. The criteria cover indicators such as power usage effectiveness, water usage effectiveness, IT equipment energy efficiency, and cooling effectiveness ratio. In addition to public procurement, these Guidelines can be used as a starting point for other types of data centre procurement (such as through the private sector) and the basis of government regulations. These Guidelines were developed in a consultative process meant to reflect current global best practices, with the understanding that their contents should be adapted to local circumstances rather than applied verbatim based on generalized recommendations.

EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY (EFSA)

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), Bonatti M, Lenzi P, Lewandowska A, Munoz Guajardo IP, Papadopoulou N, Raffaello T, Sánchez-Brunete E. Literature horizon scan for new scientific data on plants and their products obtained by new genomic techniques (January 2022 to May 2025). EFSA Journal 2025;23(8):e9619. This report presents the outcome of the pilot literature search on new scientific data on plants and products thereof obtained by New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), performed as described in the protocol made available for public consultation in May-June 2025. The report describes search strategies and inclusion/exclusion criteria applied for the literature review and presents the results of the assessment performed for new scientific data (January 22 to May 25) on plants and their products obtained by NGTs. The report discusses the limitations of the search and provides recommendations for improvement. EFSA concluded that none of the studies retrieved by the literature search contained new hazards or risks not previously considered in EFSA scientific opinions.

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), Barthélémy E, Cariou R, Castle L, Crebelli R, Di Consiglio E, Hemy Dumas T, et al. Literature review on micro- and nanoplastic release from food contact materials during their use. EFSA Journal 2025;22(10):9733E. To search for evidence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNP) release during the uses of food contact materials (FCM), a structured literature review was carried out on studies published between 2015 and 20th January 2025. It identified 1711 publications of which 122 were selected for data extraction. Eight additional publications were added to provide more context. Most studies concern microplastics, while data on nanoplastics are almost entirely absent. Despite the large number of publications investigating the release of MNP from FCM, the available evidence concerning the characteristics and quantities of released MNP from FCM remains limited. Results show that (i) there is evidence of microplastics released during the uses of FCM, (ii) this release is due to mechanical stress, such as abrasion or friction, or due to materials with open or fibrous structures, (iii) despite the uncertainties, the actual release is much lower than the results presented in many publications. In view of all this, there is no sufficient basis at this stage to estimate MNP exposure from FCM during their uses. This review identifies methodological shortcomings and data gaps and makes recommendations on related future research needs.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)

Country preparedness for the introduction and appropriate use of antibiotics: operational guidance. Geneva: World Health Organization 2025; 204 p. ISBN 978-92-4-011109-7 (electronic version) ISBN 978-92-4-011110-3 (print version). This operational guidance supports countries to appropriately introduce an antibiotic for the first time. It aims to ensure timely access, appropriate use and optimal patient outcomes, while minimizing the potential of emerging resistance, by offering guidance on how to introduce an antibiotic into national health care systems. It primarily focuses on Watch and Reserve antibiotics, which are typically used as second- and third line treatments in hospital settings. Such antibiotics are essential for treating multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs), but often face specific access challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This guidance outlines an approach to planning the introduction and implementation of these products, considering their unique characteristics and associated needs, with the goal of enhancing treatment access for patients and promoting appropriate overall antibiotic use.

Malaria surveillance, monitoring and evaluation: a reference manual, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization 2025; 222 p. ISBN 978-92-4-011247-6 (electronic version) ISBN 978-92-4-011248-3 (print version). This reference manual provides comprehensive guidance on integrating malaria surveillance as a core intervention across all malaria transmission settings, aligning with the principles of the Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030. It emphasizes the importance of transforming surveillance into a dynamic tool that informs programmatic decision-making, resource allocation and intervention planning. Key components of the guidance include the establishment of robust surveillance systems capable of detecting malaria cases, monitoring intervention coverage, and evaluating programme performance. The document outlines methodologies for data collection, analysis and reporting tailored to varying transmission intensities. It also provides strategies for integrating surveillance data with broader health information systems, ensuring sustainability and responsiveness to emerging challenges, such as climate change and drug resistance. Practical tools, including standardized indicators, data visualization methods and case studies, are included to support implementation at national and subnational levels. The manual addresses persistent gaps such as inadequate data quality, incomplete case detection and insufficient preparedness, and offers solutions that emphasize collaboration, capacity-strengthening and innovation to reduce malaria burden, accelerate towards elimination and sustain malaria-free status.

Mental health atlas 2024. Geneva: World Health Organization 2025; 98 p. ISBN 978-92-4-011448-7 (electronic version) ISBN 978-92-4-011449-4 (print version). WHO’s Mental Health Atlas is a periodic survey and report of countries’ mental health policies and programmes, laws, information systems, financing, workforce and services. The 2024 edition, the seventh in a series that started in 2001, draws on data from 144 countries and includes several new indicators on service delivery including telehealth and physical health, community-based care, and data monitoring. This latest report provides an overview of global mental health systems and services, tracks progress towards the targets of WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, and identifies key gaps in mental health service development across the world.