The international journal Rural 21 has dedicated nearly 60 years to all topics surrounding rural development. Its ambition is to further those strategies and policies that strengthen rural areas of developing and newly industrialising countries and encourage their implementation. The platform addresses the complete range of relevant themes – from agriculture and fisheries via capacity building and education through to health and social security, energy supply and trade. Center-stage is always devoted to inquiring into how measures and strategies can contribute to global food security and to reducing poverty.

The first issue of Rural 21 dates back to 1967. From 1974 to 2007, the journal was published in three languages entitled „entwicklung & ländlicher raum“  /  „agriculture & rural development“ / „agriculture & développement rural“. In 2008, the journal was relaunched as „Rural 21“.