It is now widely accepted that AIDS in not just a health issue. In the recently developed Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, the Malawi people and government designated HIV/AIDS as a crosscutting issue, and the Malawi National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework 2000-2004 calls for “an expanded, multi-sectoral national response to the epidemic.” This background paper critically assesses current knowledge in these areas. It was intended to provide input to a “Think Tank” (Mangochi, November 7-9, 2001) involving scientists, policy makers and development workers from key organizations. The paper is structured as follows. Chapter 1 documents the dimensions of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Malawi, drawing on national, regional and district trends, and comments on the extent and reliability of current epidemiological information and projections. Chapter 2 summarizes what is known from Malawi and elsewhere concerning the contribution of agriculture to the spread of HIV. It also examines what is known concerning the impact of AIDS on agriculturally based livelihoods, and nutrition and food security. In all this, critical knowledge gaps are highlighted. Chapter 3 describes the objectives, programs and activities of institutions concerned with AIDS and Agriculture-related activities.