The role of research in advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Technology, professional expertise and educational and research resources are crucial for achieving SDGs
From EBSCO / CABI
In 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which outlines steps to combat global issues like extreme poverty, hunger, climate change, and inequality.
The agenda encourages nations to work together to enhance environmental, economic and social sustainability, aiming for a peaceful planet for all. The 2030 Agenda includes 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), each with specific targets and indicators.
As we step into 2025, it is a good time to reflect on our global achievements and future directions, particularly concerning SDGs. These goals are essential for addressing global challenges, and while progress has been made, there is still much to be done. Technology, professional expertise and educational and research resources are crucial for achieving these goals.
One of these goals, Goal #2, aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” This goal involves reducing food waste, improving the global supply chain and ensuring that agricultural production is sustainable and accessible to all. Achieving this goal requires addressing issues like sustainability, gender equality among farmers, climate change, rural poverty, and supporting small farmers. Advanced technologies and new research tools are essential for creating a healthier and more resilient agricultural system.
Agricultural engineers play a vital role in making farming practices more productive, efficient and sustainable. They use engineering science and design principles to improve agricultural production by developing systems, recommending new equipment and integrating modern technology. Some technological advancements include self-driving tractors and harvesters, soil moisture sensors, smart irrigation systems, aerial drones, robotic systems, and solar power for weed control and water purification. Artificial intelligence (AI) is also being used to collect data and make predictions to help farmers address challenges like pest control, soil health and inclement weather.
The role of technology
Combining agricultural engineering techniques with developing technologies benefits farmers in multiple ways. Enhanced sustainability, improved productivity and overall efficiency help farmers tackle environmental challenges and increase economic benefits. Additionally, the latest scientific findings combined with traditional farming knowledge help those in food production work towards Goal #2 and other SDGs.
Staying up to date with the latest trends is essential for those involved in food production due to ever-changing environmental and economic factors. Quality, authoritative research helps agricultural engineers and scientists explore new equipment, methodologies and trends within the field. Access to resources enables informed decision-making backed by trustworthy information. With foundational education and training, agricultural engineers can use research resources to develop solutions to many of the issues farmers face today.
Achieving Goal #2 and the other 16 SDGs requires the efforts of agricultural engineers, farmers, researchers, conservationists, government officials, and others. Sharing resources, knowledge and diverse perspectives makes these goals more attainable. Access to databases and other tools ensures that all parties in food production are informed about the latest developments and can make strategic and sustainable advancements.
Living and breathing sustainability
CABI is a premier academic publisher in the field of life sciences and an international, intergovernmental not-for-profit research centre. Not only do CABI research resources have content to support SDGs, but those at CABI are living and breathing sustainability every day with the work scientists are carrying out around the world. This is supported by CABI’s revenue going into projects around the world, including projects to tackle issues like invasive species and crop health.
Some of CABI’s projects explore topics like generative AI for agriculture advisory, responsible data management and enhancing technology-based agriculture in rural areas. Projects like these, backed by reputable sources, make a direct impact on farmers, women in rural areas, scientists, and others involved in food production. Higher crop yields, more cost-effective practices, increased productivity, decreased losses, and reduced crop threats are just some of the results of these key projects carried out by CABI.
Renowned resources like CAB Abstracts with Full Text provide comprehensive content materials curated by subject matter experts, benefiting researchers, students, faculty, and librarians. With advanced filtering, the CABI Thesaurus controlled-vocabulary tool, CABI Codes, and precise subject indexing, searching across this database is easy and efficient. These valuable resources are accessible via EBSCO research platforms.