Ensuring tangible food security, agricultural development and sustainable resource management has been at the centre of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)'s activities since it began. Agriculture remains the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 percent of today's global population. The world's 500 million small farms worldwide provide up to 80 percent of the food consumed.

However, 800 million people worldwide still lack regular access to adequate amounts of food. Adding to the traditional challenges is a changing climate that is impacting many farmers.   Increasing global carbon emissions are affecting the yield and nutritional value of foods grown.  Declining Himalayan snow and ice cover, expected to decline 20 percent by 2030, is impeding traditional means of irrigation.

AKF aims to enhance food security, increase sustainable utilisation of natural resources, improve livelihoods from agriculture and improve resilience towards climate change. Of particular importance is the role of women; it is estimated that the elimination of the gender gap would lower the number of undernourished people in the world by 150 million.