Almost 75% of the world's poorest people (around 3 billion) depend on agriculture, forestry or fisheries to secure their work and household income. Many of the technologies developed to extend agricultural productivity also have beneficial impacts upon human health and well-being. Links between natural resources research and better health for the poor have been constantly under-valued, with limited formal interaction and lesson learning between the two sectors. What can be done to overcome these sectoral divisions in development research and policy?