Marie de Lattre-Gasquet, in her lead article, says that the foresight process provides an opportunity for the world, and especially for ACP countries, to invent sustainable patterns of production and consumption and explore new lifestyles. The author describes the trends related to ST&I, knowledge development and agriculture to show that the future depends on those involved in agriculture and rural development and that ST&I influence agricultural research and development and the other way round. To explain the idea that foresight aims at better investment decisions Neill Allan, in his lead article first explains the why, how, what and when of Foresight. He provides examples, among which several ACP cases, that are well underway to providing benefits. The lead articles are supported by background material in the form of web links to organizations, think-tanks, research groups, journals that deal with foresight. Further, an overview is given of articles that one can easily access and download for further reading on foresight and its role and meaning for agricultural and rural development. This folder has been edited by Judith Francis (CTA) and Jacqueline Sluijs (KIT). March-April 2009