The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the lead organization in the United Nations for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development. Its aim is to eliminate world hunger and poverty by promoting sustainable agricultural development, improved nutrition and food security.

  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves the United Nations family as the global forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Its aim is to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity and within this context it assists research on, and development of, practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses.

The Joint FAO/IAEA Division is part of both FAO's Agriculture Department and the IAEA's Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications is known as AGE in FAO and as NAFA in IAEA.

The FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory is part of the Agency's Laboratories at Seibersdorf. These laboratories (known as NAAL) are part of the IAEA's Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications.

  The Programme of Work and Budget is approved by the governing bodies of FAO and IAEA and the planning is carried out in close consultation and co-operation with other branches of both organizations. The Joint Division has responsibility for the technical and scientific direction of the Programme and for its co-ordination, to ensure that the technical services of both organizations participate fully in the joint operations.