I've been using FAOSTAT since 2007 and had been fairly happy with its enhancements, the greater availability of data, and the relative friendliness for downloading. In particular, I appreciated the elimination of data quantity that could be downloaded at any one time. As a researcher, a database of this extensiveness and quality is extremely important. My concern is that the new data site is terrible, as several commentators have indicated. I will not go into details, which others have given, but urge you to PLEASE KEEP THE OLD SITE. It does what I ask it to do, unlike the new site which does whatever it wants to do. It also presents the data in a MUCH LESS useful manner. Quite frankly, I am terrified at the prospect of losing FAOSTAT as a data source, as I have no intention of using the new site as it currently works.
Gerardo Otero
Professor of Sociology and International Studies
Simon Fraser University
Vancouver, Canada