Rural development is a key goal for both economic growth and poverty reduction in the developing world. Agriculture represents indeed about one-third of GDP and three-quarters of employment in Sub-Saharan countries. We live in a new era of agriculture economics where the links with important biology-economics interfaces are more profound. Globalization and liberalization, increasing population pressure, depletion of natural resources, rapid urbanization, vertical coordination in international supply chains, increasing environmental pressures and climate change, agriculture productivity disparities around the globe, increased 

Agriculture can help reduce poverty for 78% of the world's poor, who live in rural areas and work mainly in farming. It represents a vital and strategic policy area also in the developed world.

It can raise incomes, improve food security and benefit the environment especially in sub-Saharan African countries where governments and international development groups see boosting productivity on smallholder farms as key to reducing rural poverty and safeguarding the food security of farming and non-farming households.