News & Highlights Archive

	Transforming food systems through the power of photography. The winners of the FAO World Food Day photo contest for Europe and Central Asia announced. Let us rewrite the story of food for a better, more sustainable world. The 2021 FAO World Food Day photo contest for Europe and Central Asia inspired many, regardless of their age or nationality, to share what food and food systems mean to them. Discover the winning photos and their messages! More... 22-12-2021
	Central Asia and global partners discuss the future of animal health and One Health in the region. Regional animal health networks offer a framework for building strong technical capacity, competency, leadership, and a critical mass of regionally networked specialists. With this in mind, a two-day workshop of the Central Asia Animal Health Network (CAAHN) took place in Nur Sultan on 8–9 December, bringing together not just chief veterinary officers and epidemiology and laboratory focal points from Central Asian countries, but also specialists from all major international players in the region. More... 21-12-2021
	Enhancing rice production in North Macedonia through land consolidation. Rice is a strategic commodity within Macedonian agriculture production that has the potential for export and additional income for around 3 500 farming families in Kochani valley, the biggest rice production region in the country. Among the villages here is Spanchevo, characterized by fertile soil, plentiful water, favourable natural conditions for agricultural production – and fragmented land structures. More... 20-12-2021
	Forging bonds: Syrian refugees find more than new livelihoods in Turkey. Food cooperatives offer income, dignity and friendships for Syrians fleeing conflict. When Tuka arrived in the Turkish port of Izmir, seeking temporary protection after fleeing the conflict in Syria in 2017, it felt as though she had found a safe haven, but lost almost everything else. The violence had claimed several of her loved ones. The tailoring workshop she had painstakingly built up in her home city of Aleppo was no longer. More... 17-12-2021
	Annual meeting of FAO’s Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM) discusses 2022-2025 phase. Interest in the FMM is growing, with New Zealand and Australia the latest Members to join. The flexibility of the FMM is helping FAO eliminate world hunger and achieve the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). The critical importance of this flexibility was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when FAO was able to deploy technology to replace physical meetings and quickly allocate resources to the most critical areas. More... 17-12-2021
	Georgia eyes becoming a sustainable agritourism destination. With its storied gastronomic traditions, rich cultural heritage and striking scenery from mountains to shores, Georgia has set its sights on becoming a top sustainable agritourism destination in the Caucasus region in the next decade. A new roadmap seeks to help Georgia invest in developing its agritourism industry in a responsible, inclusive and eco-friendly manner. More... 16-12-2021
	Hunger in the Arab region continues to worsen. New report calls for radical changes to the Arab region’s agrifood systems to deliver food security and nutrition for all. The 2021 Near East and North Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition released today shows that the number of hungry people in the region reached 69 million people in 2020, triggered by protracted crises, social unrests and exposure to multiple shocks and stresses such as conflicts, poverty, inequality, climate change, scarce natural resources and the economic repercussions associated with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. More... 16-12-2021
	Virtual training series helps countries prepare for emergencies affecting livestock. Natural and man-made disasters occur in various forms, and all of them can severely affect people’s livelihoods through loss of assets, including livestock. In emergencies, helping households protect their livestock and survive the immediate crisis can contribute to a faster recovery of the whole community. More... 15-12-2021
	Number of hungry in Asia-Pacific swells by more than 50 million since the arrival of COVID-19. According to the 2021 Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition by FAO and UNICEF. According to the 2021 Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition, in this region alone, more than one billion people did not have access to adequate food in 2020 – an increase of almost 150 million people in just one year. More... 15-12-2021
	New interactive report shows Africa’s growing hunger crisis. Leaders of three regional agencies call for more action on agrifood systems transformation in the face of worsening hunger and malnutrition. “A common vision, strong political leadership and effective cross-sectoral collaboration, which includes the private sector, are essential to agree on trade-offs and to identify and implement sustainable solutions that transform agrifood systems,” they said in Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2021: Statistics and Trends. More... 14-12-2021
	FAO and International Fertilizer Association join forces to promote sustainable fertilizer use. The Memorandum of Understanding will boost commitment to sustainable food and agriculture and soil health. The MoU was signed virtually by Beth Bechdol, FAO’s Deputy Director-General, and Svein Tore Holsether, IFA’s Board Chair. The partnership will see FAO and the IFA work together to raise awareness on the International Code of Conduct for the Sustainable Use and Management of Fertilizers (Fertilizer Code), as well as the improvement and dissemination of Fertilizer Statistics. More... 13-12-2021
	Though still low in Europe and Central Asia, hunger rates worsened by pandemic impacts. FAO releases new data and analysis on the region’s hunger and malnutrition situation in a shorter, more compact format. The latest data and trends are now accessible in the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in Europe and Central Asia, produced by the FAO. More... 13-12-2021
	FAO and Wageningen University and Research step up joint efforts to advance innovative and strategic approaches for healthy agrifood systems and a healthy planet. Mobilizing science and innovation to leave no-one behind. The new agreement covers a wide range of activities including improving agrifood economics; ensuring sustainable animal production and health, as well as sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis; safeguarding biodiversity and the environment; improving food security and nutrition; and strengthening agrifood systems and food safety. More... 13-12-2021
	To diversify the country’s economy, FAO offers support for Turkmenistan’s agrifood sector. Turkmenistan is committed to reforming and strengthening the agriculture sector to meet national needs and withstand global challenges, and FAO stands ready to aid the country in this process. Today, as an important milestone, the two parties signed the Country Programming Framework – a document framing their partnership for the period 2021–2025. More... 11-12-2021
	Europe and Central Asia seek ways to create new opportunities for rural youth. In many places across the globe, rural communities are shrinking. Unemployment and rural poverty are among the key drivers of migration by youth, who are often searching for a more dynamic quality of life in urban areas or abroad. Countries of Europe and Central Asia are no exception, where one of the key social and economic challenges is ensuring that agriculture and rural economies offer an attractive path for the younger generation. More... 10-12-2021
	Sustainable tourism can offer mountain communities a path to prosperity and inclusion. FAO and UNWTO launch new publication at high-level event to celebrate International Mountain Day 2021. Sustainable tourism plays a key role in boosting livelihoods, poverty alleviation, and environmental conservation in mountainous areas, according to a new report launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UNWTO at an International Mountain Day 2021 celebration event. More... 10-12-2021
	Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR): FAO calls for more funding to eradicate the disease by 2030. The vaccination programme is ongoing despite price surges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. FAO today called on donors and Members to increase funding to fight PPR, which the United Nations agency, together with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), aims to eradicate by 2030. More... 10-12-2021
	Conference brings gender equality into Uzbekistan’s forestry sector. Attended by a wide range of national and international experts, a conference on implementing the Strategy for Gender Equality in the Forestry System of Uzbekistan was organized in Tashkent by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with Uzbekistan’s State Forestry Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Center for Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture. More... 09-12-2021
	Global Environment Facility approves $13.6 million for FAO-led projects. Eight countries will benefit from projects to address land degradation, biodiversity and sustainability of marine resources. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today welcomed approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for four FAO-led projects in eight countries, totalling more than $13.6 million in funding. The decision was made during the 61st Meeting of the GEF Council, its main governing body, held virtually. More... 09-12-2021
	New FAO report on land and water resources paints an alarming picture. Pressures on land and water resources increase to critical point after significant deterioration over the past decade, according to SOLAW 2021. The FAO launched a landmark report highlighting the worsening state of the earth’s soil, land and water resources and the challenges it poses for feeding a global population expected to near ten billion by 2050. More... 09-12-2021
	Rome’s traditional Christmas lighting illuminates SDGs. FAO launches with its host “Let’s give the gift of a sustainable city”. The official ceremony to inaugurate the 25 meter high fir on Piazza Venezia in Rome’s historic city centre took place today as the Italian capital launched the initiative “Christmas in Rome – Let’s give the gift of a sustainable city”. The campaign calls on citizens to join global efforts to build a more sustainable world, starting from their own city, and is symbolized by the giant gift packages at the foot of the Christmas tree, each representing one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. More... 08-12-2021
	Spearheading the shift from disaster response to anticipatory action in agriculture. FAO Director-General: Acting ahead of crises means protecting people's lives and livelihoods with benefits that reach far into the future. Acting ahead of crises means protecting people's lives and livelihoods with benefits that reach far into the future, QU Dongyu said today, highlighting the need to shift towards more proactive anticipatory approaches to predictable shocks, ranging from typhoons, droughts and pest infestations to the consequences of conflicts and economic crises. More... 07-12-2021
	FAO pledges upscaled support for better nutrition and healthy diets for all. FAO Director-General addresses Nutrition for Growth event and stresses the importance of advocacy and awareness-raising. “Advocacy efforts on the importance of nutrition, heathy diets and agrifood systems for human and planetary health are showing results,” he said, citing the mid-term review of the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition. More... 07-12-2021
	Plastics in agrifood systems: The good, the bad and the ugly. Ocean litter has been making the headlines, but a new report by FAO suggests that plastic pollution is also pervasive in our agricultural soils. The report - “Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability: a call for action” - is the first global report of its kind by FAO and contains some startling numbers. More... 07-12-2021
	Digging deeper into the arid terrain of the world’s largest landlocked country. How Uzbekistan’s farmers are overcoming soil salinity and water shortages. The Central Asian country is double land-locked – meaning it is surrounded by countries that are themselves landlocked – and more than half of Uzbekistan’s soils are salt-affected making it extra hard to farm productively. More... 06-12-2021
	World Soil Day: FAO highlights the threat of soil salinization to global food security. New report on soil shows 55 percent of countries surveyed lack adequate capacities for soil analysis. “Soil is the foundation of agriculture and the world’s farmers depend on soil to produce about 95% of the food we eat”, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said. “Yet, our soils are at risk,” he stressed in remarks ahead of the December 5 event on the theme: “Halt Soil Salinization, Boost Soil Productivity”. More... 03-12-2021
	A life dedicated to the soil. The contribution of Gulmira and everyone to counter soil degradation processes is celebrated annually on 5 December, World Soil Day. Soil is home to more than one-quarter of our planet’s biodiversity; 95 percent of the food we eat comes from the soil. As a soil scientist, Gulmira gathers, interprets, and analyzes information about the chemistry, biology, and physics of soil to better understand this key natural resource. More... 02-12-2021
	FAO requires $1.5 billion to save lives and livelihoods of up to 50 million people in 2022. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking $1.5 billion in 2022 to save the lives and livelihoods of some of the world's most food-insecure people, as acute hunger accelerates its march across the globe. The announcement was made as part of the United Nations’ large-scale humanitarian appeal launched today. More... 02-12-2021
	FAO unveils new Technical Platform for Family Farming. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is launching a technical platform on family farming, aiming to foster innovation and information exchanges across regions. “When resources and knowledge are shared, innovation is accelerated,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said via video in his keynote address at the launch event held in Santiago, Chile. The platform “will enable us to think big, but also facilitates concrete actions,” he said. More... 02-12-2021
	FAO Food Price Index rises in November. Wheat and dairy drive fourth consecutive monthly increase, global cereal supplies “comfortable”. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 134.4 points in the month, its highest level since June 2011 and 1.2 percent higher than during October. The index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, was 27.3 percent higher than its level in November 2020. More... 02-12-2021
	New UN report: Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 13.8 million people in just one year. A joint publication of FAO, IFAD, PAHO/WHO, WFP and UNICEF. According to the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2021, in just one year, and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people living with hunger increased by 13.8 million, reaching a total of 59.7 million people. More... 30-11-2021
	Joint FAO–UNECE sessions focus on future of European forests Protecting and restoring forests, as well as unlocking their potential to ensure livelihoods, green development, and a more sustainable outlook for humanity, were key points discussed during European Forest Week and Foresta2021 by the Joint Session of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry and the FAO European Forestry Commission. More... 29-11-2021
	FAO in 2022: Time for extraordinary efforts to continue walking the talk. Director-General QU Dongyu maps the Organization’s achievements and plans in address to the FAO Council. “We need extraordinary thinking, ways of doing business and extraordinary efficiency and effectiveness next year”, the Director-General said in opening remarks to the 168th Session of the Council, the executive organ of FAO’s Conference. More... 29-11-2021
	How can governments better prepare for and respond to a food safety crisis? FAO experts have been visiting farms across Montenegro this week, to collect up-to-date information and data to be fed into the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) system. Established by the European Union in 1965, the Farm Accountancy Data Network allows farm managers to keep track on their transactions at farm level and, thus better manage their business operations. More... 26-11-2021
	Transforming Africa’s agrifood systems requires coordinated policies across sectors. To make them more sustainable, the transformation of agrifood systems across Africa needs a “cross-sectoral, holistic, coherent and coordinated policy environment,” QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today at a high-level African Union (AU) event. FAO Director-General joins high level participants at the 17th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform meeting. More... 26-11-2021
	Safeguarding mountain vegetation: FAO receives 2021 GEO Sustainable Development Goals Award. The GEO Sustainable Development Goals Award in the Category SDG Custodian Agency was announced in a virtual ceremony held during the GEO Week 2021 under an initiative led by the Group on Earth Observations for the Sustainable Development Goals. FAO’s methodology to simplify and automatize the measuring and monitoring of the Mountain Green Cover Index, is based on Earth Observation products from satellite images and reliable interpretation models. More... 26-11-2021
	Horn of Africa: “We want to prevent as many people as possible from having to rely solely on food assistance”. Interview with Carla Mucavi, FAO Representative in Kenya. Carla Mucavi, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation’s Representative in Kenya, stresses the need to urgently scale up efforts to improve the resilience of rural and pastoral communities in the Horn of Africa region where the impact of shocks, including severe drought, will continue to be felt into 2022. More... 25-11-2021
	How can governments better prepare for and respond to a food safety crisis? A three-day regional workshop entitled “Preparing for emergencies: Food safety crisis management, response, and communication” starts today to support governments in their efforts to be ready for and handle future issues. The workshop, convened in a virtual format due to COVID-19 restrictions, provides an interactive platform to discuss issues related to food safety in depth through a series of technical expert presentations and working group discussions. More... 24-11-2021
	A new partnership between FAO and the Qatar Fund for Development targets food insecurity in Somalia. Efforts to help vulnerable rural communities in Somalia achieve food security and build up resilience towards climate change have received a boost thanks to a new partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the state’s public development institution. A $1.7 million contribution from the QFFD will kickstart the partnership with FAO, which was signed today. More... 24-11-2021
	Antimicrobials must be used sparingly to preserve their utility for agrifood systems and human health. FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Keith Sumption talks about what should be done to avoid the wide use of antibiotics and other antimicrobials to help mitigate and contain the risks of antimicrobial resistance. The benefits of access to medicines is being lost, with the concerns now for retaining access to essential, life-saving treatments. We ask him to explain the challenges for animals, crops and people posed by Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and how they can be tackled. More... 24-11-2021
	Fall Armyworm: Scaling up response across the globe. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today urged all stakeholders to scale up global response to fall armyworm, as the invasive pest continues to spread rapidly to new countries and territories, causing serious damage to food production and affecting millions of farmers across the globe. He spoke at the 5th Steering Committee Meeting on Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control. More... 24-11-2021
	Making agrifood systems more resilient to shocks: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) report by FAO is entitled “Making agrifood systems more resilient to shocks and stresses.” It provides an assessment of the ability of national agrifood systems to respond to or recover readily from shocks and stressors. It also offers guidance to governments on how they can improve resilience. More... 23-11-2021
	New platform to tackle human, animal, and environmental health challenges. The first dialogue on the joint FAO-OIE-UNEP-WHO regional partner platform helps operationalize the One Health approach. Participants gathered to discuss benefits and challenges associated with applying the One Health approach and the role of partners and their expected contribution to the partner platform. The dialogue was initiated by FAO, OIE, UNEP, and WHO during the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18–24 November). More... 22-11-2021
	World Fisheries Day 2021 hears calls to halt exploitation of fishers. FAO joins the Vatican and Stella Maris advocating for fishers’ rights and responsible practices. At a virtual event entitled ‘Stemming the tide: Together we can stop human rights violations at sea!’, FAO and the Holy See reaffirmed their commitment to protect the rights of fishers who are among the world’s poorest and most vulnerable and often subjected to exploitation in fisheries. More... 22-11-2021
	FAO publishes new plan to counter antimicrobial resistance. The silent global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highly impacts the agri-food sector, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned today while presenting FAO’s new five-year plan to help Members tackle the challenge. More... 19-11-2021
	Afghanistan - to avert a catastrophe, agricultural assistance is urgently needed. Farmers and herders are vital if the country is to climb out of a hunger trap, says FAO. In Afghanistan today at least 18.8 million people are facing acute food insecurity - meaning they are unable to feed themselves on a daily basis - and that number is projected to rise to 22.8 million people by the end of 2021. More... 19-11-2021
	Small-scale fishers celebrated for contributing to human well-being and the safeguarding of natural resources. Launch ceremony of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 highlights role in eradicating poverty and making agri-food systems more sustainable. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in his address underscored that the vision underpinning the Year is aligned with FAO’s “4 Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all – leaving no one behind.” More... 19-11-2021
	Dreamworks Trolls and the UN launch campaign for healthier eating and more sustainable living. As part of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the Trolls encourage fans to become food heroes. As part of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the Trolls encourage their fans to become food heroes by taking actions including eating healthy and reducing food waste, and adding these actions to the United Nations’ ActNow initiative. More... 19-11-2021
	Use antibiotics effectively and responsibly in dairy production, FAO recommends. Right animal husbandry practices can significantly reduce the need for antibiotic use and thus the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To this end, an FAO publication provides practical tips to cattle producers for improving animal health and hence limiting the use of antibiotics. The release of the Russian version coincides with the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. More... 18-11-2021
	A revamped state-of-the-art forest and land monitoring tool to reverse forest loss and combat climate change. Producing sound data on forests and land-use has become easier with the launch of a new phase of the FAO's state-of-the-art forest and land monitoring platform SEPAL. The second phase of SEPAL - System for Earth Observation Data Access, Processing and Analysis for Land Monitoring – can directly support FAO member countries in their efforts to generate transparent, accurate and consistent geospatial data, which is critical for reducing deforestation and degradation, and accelerating restoration. More... 18-11-2021
	FAO and KSrelief to scale up cooperation on humanitarian work, data-driven development. New five-year strategic partnership kicks off with $5 million to help vulnerable Yemeni farming families. The agreement also outlines efforts to improve knowledge sharing on agricultural best practices, engage in data-driven development work via FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, and advance agricultural innovation to help small-scale food producers achieve better production and build better lives. More... 17-11-2021
	New “rooftop farm” at FAO highlights how innovative technology can help safeguard agro-biodiversity. The initiative at the UN agency’s Rome headquarters is fruit of a collaboration with Italian food retailer NaturaSi. The farm will help explore the potential of urban agriculture to alleviate food shortages in areas where agricultural land and soil is limited, such as mountains and cities. More... 17-11-2021
	World Food Forum: follow-up actions to tap young people’s innovative potential. The FAO Director-General maps out the next moves to build on the momentum towards youth-led transformation of our agri-food systems. “FAO is committed to listening to you and investing to enable your participation across the Organization’s work, leveraging your passion and creativity to identify and implement new solutions, based on the latest evidence and the best available science,” Qu said in remarks to the Youth Ag Summit 2021 of emerging agricultural leaders. More... 17-11-2021
	FAO dialogue to spur action for protecting biodiversity in Europe and Central Asia. Mainstreaming biodiversity of all animal, plant, and fungi species in the agricultural sector is an attempt to ensure that important aspects of biodiversity protection are taken into account when selecting policies or farming methods. A two-day FAO virtual event, starting today, strives for improvement across all agricultural sectors in Europe and Central Asia for a better understanding and recognition of the value of biodiversity for food and agriculture. More... 16-11-2021
	FAO wraps up African swine fever preparedness project in the Balkans. A meeting today concludes an FAO project on African swine fever (ASF) emergency preparedness in the Balkans and also allows countries and partners to discuss the achievements and potential future follow-up activities in the five beneficiary countries (Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia). More... 16-11-2021
	UN agencies back bold plan to ensure every child in need gets a regular healthy meal in school by 2030. Integrated school health and nutrition programmes can serve as “springboards” for agri-food systems transformation. United Nations agencies have announced their strong support for an international coalition aiming to rapidly improve the nutrition, health and education of school-age children around the world following pandemic-driven school closures. More... 16-11-2021
	Africa’s Great Green Wall gives viable return on investments, FAO-led study finds. Africa’s Great Green Wall (GGW) programme to combat desertification in the Sahel region is not only crucial to the battle against climate change but also makes commercial sense for investors, a new study led by the FAO and published in Nature Sustainability shows. Cost-benefit analysis published in Nature Sustainability shows average return of USD 1.2 for every USD 1.0 invested in the land restoration project, despite harsh climatic conditions. More... 16-11-2021
	Statement on the passing of F.W. De Klerk, former President of the Republic of South Africa. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the former State President of the Republic of South Africa, F.W de Klerk. His efforts to fight hunger and malnutrition as a member of the FAO-Nobel Laureates for Food Security and Peace helped to remind the world that every single action to defeat hunger is an act of justice. More... 12-11-2021
	Ensuring rural development through better access to land for women in the Western Balkans. In late 2015, the world pledged to transform our future by committing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which foresees reforms providing women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, in accordance with national laws. This gave further impetus to the joint work of FAO and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). More... 11-11-2021
	World food import bill to reach a record high in 2021. FAO’s new Food Outlook report examines drivers of rising prices of food commodities, freight and agricultural inputs. Issued twice a year, Food Outlook offers FAO’s reviews market supply and demand trends for the world’s major foodstuffs, including cereals, vegetable oils, sugar, meat and dairy and fish. It also looks at trends in futures markets and shipping costs for food commodities. More... 11-11-2021
	“We risk a catastrophe if agriculture collapses in Afghanistan”. Richard Trenchard, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Representative in Kabul, calls for urgent action to prevent a worsening crisis. Richard Trenchard, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Representative in Afghanistan, warns that worsening drought and recent economic upheaval are having a severe impact on the country with nearly 19 million people now facing acute food insecurity. He is calling for urgent international action to prevent a catastrophe. More... 11-11-2021
	FAO-WHO 44th session of Codex Alimentarius Commission adopts new standards. The United Nations food standards body Codex Alimentarius Commission is meeting virtually on 8-13, 15, 17 and 18 November 2021 to adopt food safety and quality standards. Established in 1963, the Codex Alimentarius Commission is charged with protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in international food trade. It comprises 189 Members and 240 observer organizations, the Codex Alimentarius Commission meets annually to adopt food safety and quality standards and related recommendations. More... 10-11-2021
	Food security crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could worsen in the coming months. FAO and WFP say further scaling up of assistance urgently needed as new report highlights widespread food insecurity. Some 27 million people, one-quarter of DRC’s population, face crisis or emergency acute food insecurity conditions, fueled by poor harvests, violence-driven displacement, disease and collapsing infrastructure, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, which was also issued today. More... 10-11-2021
	Over 300 Russian-speaking veterinarians trained on African swine fever preparedness. Although the media attention is highly focused on the current human pandemic, African swine fever (ASF) is still a very pressing issue. To this end, a four-week virtual course starts today in the Russian language joined by 300 veterinarians from Europe and Central Asia. The course curricula and the platform used, called the Virtual Learning Centre, were developed by FAO. More... 09-11-2021
	COP26: Urgent action is needed to make agriculture greener and more resilient. FAO Director-General tells Glasgow conference time is running out to end hunger by 2030. Eliminating world hunger by the end of the decade requires urgent action and innovative solutions to the way we produce, distribute and consume food, QU Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said today in a message to the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP26). More... 09-11-2021
	Enhancing sustainable forest landscapes and tackling commodity-driven deforestation through better data: a new $13.7 million initiative financed by USAID. The Forest Data Partnership, co-led by FAO and World Resources Institute, will improve access to geospatial data to help reduce deforestation and restore degraded lands. An ambitious new initiative announced today aims to reduce commodity-driven deforestation and restore forest landscapes, led by the FAO and the World Resources Institute (WRI) with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). More... 09-11-2021
	Foods standards body Codex Alimentarius epitomizes the power of effective and efficient partnerships. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today hailed the Codex Alimentarius’ food standards for laying a strong foundation to ensure the foods that we grow, produce, process, trade and consume are safe. More... 08-11-2021
	Supply chain joins deforestation and farming practices as main source of emissions in agri-food sector. The food supply chain is on course to overtake farming and land use as the largest contributor to greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the agri-food system in many countries, due to rapid growth driven by food processing, packaging, transport, retail, household consumption, waste disposal and the manufacturing of fertilizers, according to a new study led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). More... 08-11-2021
	COP26: Agricultural expansion drives almost 90 percent of global deforestation. FAO Remote Sensing Survey reveals new findings. Agricultural expansion drives almost 90 percent of global deforestation – an impact much greater than previously thought, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said when releasing the first findings of its new Global Remote Sensing Survey today. More... 05-11-2021
	Climate action in agribusiness could reduce emissions by up to 7 per cent. Joint EBRD/FAO report values economic significance of potential savings of up to US$ 360 billion. Targeted action in agriculture could have a massive impact on climate change, according to a joint brief by the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) presented at the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow. More... 04-11-2021
	Green development of seed industries is vital to feed world’s growing population. Global Conference focuses on farmers’ need to access quality seeds as part of vital agri-food systems transformation. “There are no good crops without good seeds. Seeds are the foundation of agri-food systems. We rely on seeds to produce food, feed, fibre, fuel, and they contribute to a friendly environment,” said Director-General QU Dongyu as he opened an FAO-hosted Global Conference on Green Development of Seed Industries. More... 04-11-2021
	World food prices reach new peak since July 2011. Global cereal production poised to hit an all-time high, stocks set to decline. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of food commodities, averaged 133.2 points in October, up 3 percent from September, rising for a third consecutive month. More... 04-11-2021
	Joint FAO-IRENA report on renewable energy for agri-food systems launched at COP26. FAO Director-General also addresses emissions from dairy systems at global climate talks. The report, Renewable energy for agri-food systems – Towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement, is the result of a joint effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). More... 04-11-2021
	An indispensable resource for everyone interested in food and agriculture. FAO publishes 2021 edition of its World Food and Agriculture Statistical Yearbook. For the second year running, the yearbook is available in a digital format with interactive charts and downloadable data sets. The Yearbook is accompanied by FAO's Statistical Pocketbook, which provides a quick and easy reference on the main facts and trends of food and agriculture. More... 03-11-2021
	Central Asian ministers ready to help farmers withstand climate change. Smallholder farmers need to become more prepared for and resilient to weather extremes and climate shocks, and further support should be granted to them, concluded the virtual meeting of Agricultural Ministers of five Central Asian countries, convened by FAO. More... 02-11-2021
	Ending child labour by 2025 requires effective action and strong leadership. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu addresses Nov. 2-3 Global Solutions Forum on child labour. A total of 160 million children worldwide – almost 1 in 10 - are engaged in child labour. About 70 percent of these children (112 million) work in crop production, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, according to the latest data available. More... 02-11-2021
	G20: Actions now to feed the world and save the planet, urges FAO. FAO Director-General addresses world leaders at G20 summit. Policy makers must find a way to “feed the world and save the planet at the same time,” QU Dongyu said at the G20 Leaders Summit in Rome. “Climate change will compromise our ability to produce sufficient amounts of nutritious foods and increase poverty and deepen inequalities,” Qu warned, on the eve of COP climate conference in Glasgow. More... 31-10-2021
	World Food Day 2021 celebrated across Europe and Central Asia. World Food Day, commemorated every year on 16 October – the date FAO was founded in 1945 – this year continued an established theme of recent years, that “Our Actions or Our Future”. The day highlighted how transforming agrifood systems could bring widespread improvements to everyone, resulting in better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. More... 29-10-2021
	G20: Strengthening the link between food, health and finance sectors. FAO Director-General addresses G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ Meeting. The G20 must continue its efforts to achieve financing levels that enable long-term strengthening of health systems. Together with transformed agri-foods systems that are more sustainable, this can make the world more resilient against future pandemics and achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said at a G20 high-level meeting on Friday. More... 29-10-2021
	G20 Green Garden: Planting for the future in Ancient Rome. FAO, Italy, Lazio and Rome join planting ceremony ahead of G20 Summit and COP 26. The G20 Green Garden in Rome’s famous Appia Antica Park is a multi-partner initiative launched in June 2021 amid the Italian current Presidency of the G20. This open-air museum celebrates biodiversity, nature and the city’s ancient heritage while calling for global solidarity to create a sustainable future for ‘People, Planet, Prosperity.’ More... 29-10-2021
	“To feed the world and protect nature we need Glasgow to be forward-looking, ambitious and transformative”. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of FAO, talks about how agri-food systems are part of the solution to the climate crisis ahead of COP26. Maria Helena Semedo, is an economist and politician from Cape Verde who has development and sustainability close to her heart. Ahead of the upcoming United Nations’ Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, we ask her how the Rome-based UN agency is working to help end world hunger while addressing the climate crisis. More... 28-10-2021
	Desert Locust upsurge may be declining but remaining swarms require vigilance in East Africa and Yemen. $11.2 million donation from Mastercard Foundation to aid control and recovery efforts. "Depending on weather conditions and our ability to reach breeding and migration areas, the upsurge could be over by the end of 2021 or in early 2022,” said Rein Paulsen, the Director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience. More... 28-10-2021
	Central Asian countries benefit from Turkish expertise through South-South Cooperation efforts. FAO and Turkey signed a South-South and Triangular Cooperation agreement on deploying Turkish experts to projects sites in Central Asia as part of the FAO–Turkey Partnership Programme for food, agriculture, and forestry. More... 27-10-2021
	Statisticians receive practical help to carry out agricultural census. Halfway through the 2020 round of the World Programme for the Census of Agriculture covering the period of 2016–2025, FAO is providing further practical input for the countries of Europe and Central Asia to join this cycle. The five-day FAO webinar presents Volume 2 of the World Programme of the Census of Agriculture (WCA 2020) - “Operational Guidelines” dealing with the practical steps involved in actually conducting an agricultural census in the field. More... 25-10-2021
	Half of Afghanistan’s population face acute hunger as humanitarian needs grow to record levels. UN appeals for urgent assistance as country becomes one of the world’s largest food crises. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report has found that more than one in two Afghans will be facing crisis (IPC Phase 3) or emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of acute food insecurity through the November 2021 to March 2022 lean season, requiring urgent humanitarian interventions to meet basic food needs, protect livelihoods and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. More... 25-10-2021
	Animal disease threats: FAO launches new global information system. EMPRES-i+ aims to improve intelligence, forecasting and early warning, enabling countries to monitor disease spread and risk of new outbreaks. “We need to prioritize and strengthen the animal health sector“ FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said at an event to launch the EMPRES-i+ system. He added: “Strong international and national animal health systems are key to prevent diseases, ensure safe and nutritious food, and protect farmers’ interests.” More... 22-10-2021
	Creating new income opportunity for local fishing communities in Turkey. On World Tourism Day (27 September), pescatourism tours started in Turkey’s Gokova Bay as part of FAO’s Blue Hope Initiative in the Mediterranean Sea. This is a major step in adapting pescatourism in the country, which aims to reduce the fishing effort on stocks and create new income opportunity for the local communities by offering revenue from other uses of their vessel. More... 22-10-2021
	FAO calls for greater RBA collaboration to implement UN Food System Summit outcomes. With just nine agricultural seasons to go before 2030, it is crucial to strengthen the joint work by the three Rome-based United Nations agencies (RBAs) to implement the UN Food Systems Summit outcomes and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was the main message conveyed by FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, on Wednesday at the fifth informal joint meeting of the governing bodies of the three RBAs (FAO Council, IFAD Executive Board and WFP Executive Board). More... 21-10-2021
	World map of salt-affected soils launched at virtual conference. FAO Director-General opens Oct. 20-22 Global Symposium on Salt-Affected Soils. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today launched the Global Map of Salt-Affected Soils, a key tool for halting salinization and boosting productivity. The map estimates that there are more than 833 million hectares of salt-affected soils around the globe (8.7% of the planet). Most of them can be found in naturally arid or semi-arid environments in Africa, Asia and Latin America. More... 20-10-2021
	Public development banks: Part of the solution to ending hunger. FAO Director-General addresses Finance in Common summit in Rome, strengthens ties with Italy’s CDP. Public development banks are “part of the solution” to ending hunger and transforming agri-food systems, as they have the power and reach to narrow funding gaps and consolidate bridges between stakeholders, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said today. More... 19-10-2021
	World Food Day 2021: FAO hails new momentum and energy on agri-food systems despite unprecedented crises. Pope Francis joins other leaders with messages for global event paying tribute to Food Heroes. A UN Food Systems Summit last month mapped out the broad outlines of how the world needs to move forward to reshape the structures under which our food is produced, distributed and consumed. “Together, we have been rolling up our sleeves to lead the implementation and drive the transformation,” QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said in his address to the FAO-hosted World Food Day celebration. More... 15-10-2021
	Tea and coffee: celebrating their cultural, social and economic importance. FAO Director-General joins global industry experts at event as part of World Food Day celebrations. Global tea and coffee experts came together today to explore and celebrate the cultural, social, and economic importance of the world’s two most popular beverages including their role in making agri-food systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. More... 15-10-2021
	Put people at the center of agri-food system innovation. FAO World Economic Forum founder Karl Schwab delivers keynote address at FAO-hosted World Food Day celebrations. “We must build greater trust that food systems work for people – not the other way around,” Karl Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said today in a keynote address for World Food Day celebrations at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). More... 15-10-2021
	FAO–Food Bank convoy delivers food to those in need. A long line of trucks today passed through the historic centre of Budapest carrying 33 tonnes of food donated by Hungarian and international food producers and retailers to support thousands of people in need. The event, carried out to mark World Food Day, was organized by FAO and the Hungarian Food Bank Association for the sixteenth consecutive year. More... 15-10-2021
	Albania works toward better adaptation to climate change. Aided by FAO, multiple events took place in recent weeks in Albania to help the country fight climate change and its consequences. In the past decades, the country has been facing floods and droughts and further weather extremes, as well as invasive marine species. More... 13-10-2021
	Kunming COP15: Agri-food system transformation is key for biodiversity conservation. FAO Director-General speaks at Convention on Biological Diversity on building an ecological civilization. “In order to fulfil our shared aspiration of building a shared future for life on earth, we need to pursue the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature,” the Director-General said at the opening session of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). More... 12-10-2021
	FAO, WFP and EU discuss heading off food crises before they strike. Brussels Dialogue - “From reaction to prevention: anticipatory action against food crises” – highlights efficiency and cost-effectiveness of anticipatory action. The high-level session was followed by panel discussions featuring partners’ experience at field level and the sharing of lessons learned. More... 12-10-2021
	Eastern and Southeastern Europe commits to restore more than 4 million hectares of land by 2030. The countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe are taking bold action with the commitment to restore more than 4 million ha of land by 2030 under the Global Bonn Challenge. This was announced today at the Ministerial meeting organized by UNECE and FAO as part of the UN’s Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. More... 12-10-2021
	Regional meeting aims to strengthen the role of fisheries and aquaculture. Fish is an important animal protein source for billions of people worldwide, providing livelihood for more than 10 percent of the global population who depend on capture fishing and aquaculture. People living in countries across Europe and Central Asia are not an exception either. More... 11-10-2021
	Committee on World Food Security (CFS) kicks off with a call for agri-food systems transformation. FAO stresses the need for strong partnerships to accelerate the end of hunger and malnutrition. According to the latest FAO estimates, the number of undernourished people in the world continues to rise. In 2020, up to 811 million people in the world went to bed hungry, whereas 2.4 billion people lacked year-round access to adequate food, and more than 3 billion people could not afford a healthy diet. More... 11-10-2021
	Smallholder farmers would benefit from an online trading platform, FAO study finds. In the Republic of Moldova, creating a single online trading platform for small-scale agricultural producers could improve sales and market access, thus increase growth and economic competitiveness. Returning migrants could benefit, too, and become agents of change thanks to their digital skills, as well as inspire other farmers who are still reluctant to adopt and use online solutions. More... 08-10-2021
	G20 Parliamentary Meeting: FAO stresses the transformative power of parliaments to face pressing challenges. FAO has been supporting the role of parliamentarians in the fight against hunger and malnutrition for many years. Politicians from the G20 countries have a key role in tackling global challenges such as worsening hunger and the climate crisis, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) seeks deeper cooperation with them to accelerate progress, Director-General QU Dongyu said today. More... 08-10-2021
	G20 Business meeting: FAO calls for more and better agri-food investments to fight hunger. Private sector is key in post-pandemic recovery. Transformed and inclusive agri-food systems are needed to end hunger around the world and drive responses to other global challenges such as the climate crisis, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), told global private-sector leaders on Friday at the Business 20 (B20) summit. More... 08-10-2021
	FAO Food Price Index rises further in September. World cereal production is expected to lag behind global consumption despite hitting an all-time high. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 130.0 points in September, up 1.2 percent from August and 32.8 percent higher than in September 2020. The index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities. More... 07-10-2021
	Trainings on pig disease and farm biosecurity continue. FAO has finished delivering a series of trainings at various locations in Kosovo on detecting and preventing African swine fever (ASF) in pig farms. Four trainings at different locations were held reaching 47 pig keepers and 12 private veterinarians. The training materials were developed by FAO experts and was adapted to local circumstances and delivered by Jeton Muhaxhiri, FAO field activity expert. More... 06-10-2021
	Producing more with less - a new approach and a new business model in fighting hunger. FAO Director-General addresses high-level forum organized by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Agriculture. “We need a new approach – a new business model. We must produce more with less,” the FAO Director-General stressed in remarks made at the high-profile International Agro-Industrial Forum held on the sidelines of the "Golden Autumn - 2021" Exhibition in Moscow, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation within the framework of the Agro-Industrial Complex Week. More... 06-10-2021
	Agri-food systems transformation: new, ambitious framework proposed to monitor progress. Experts from FAO, John Hopkins University and GAIN seek rigorous metrics system in piece published by the Food Policy Journal. Transforming agri-food systems is the high road to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and a rigorous, science-based monitoring framework is needed to steer the process and keep all stakeholders accountable, a consortium of experts say in a new “viewpoint” published in the Food Policy journal. More... 05-10-2021
	Food security and water security go hand-in-hand. FAO Director-General spoke at the launch of the WMO-led report “2021 State of Climate Services: Water”. Food security can only be achieved together with water security, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu said today, calling for proactive actions to improve integrated water management while boosting the quality of life and livelihoods. The Director-General spoke at a high-level launch of the report "2021 State of Climate Services: Water" led by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) featuring inputs from FAO experts. More... 05-10-2021
	Vibrant youth gathering sparks ideas and actions to shape the future of our agri-food systems. Youth send out message on food as a basic right at first World Food Forum. Thousands of young people from across the globe followed five days of virtual debates, innovation, science and cultural celebrations in Rome. Rallying under the slogan “Nothing about us without us,” youth leaders called for food to be considered a public good and a basic human right. More... 05-10-2021
	Starvation and hunger-related deaths a reality amid worsening food crises, says FAO. Director-General QU Dongyu tells High-Level UN Event on famine that livelihoods assistance must be prioritized. "Today we face unprecedented food crises on multiple fronts. Starvation and hunger-related deaths are a present reality," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu told the High-Level UN event: Action in Support of Preventing and Ending Famine Now. "As we near the end of 2021, the situation has continued to deteriorate." More... 04-10-2021
	Feeding people while saving the planet - "Change the Game, Change the Future" online platform challenges youth with delicate balancing act. New food loss and waste reduction game platform launched at World Food Forum. The online decision-making platform "Change the Game, Change the Future" was jointly developed by FAO and The Lexicon, a North America-based non-profit organization whose "Green Brown Blue accelerator" mobilizes experts and builds tools to tackle challenges facing food systems. The game platform was introduced during a five-day flagship event of the World Food Forum (WFF), a youth-led movement to help shape the future of food and agriculture. More... 04-10-2021
	2021 Innovation Award winners announced. FAO and Switzerland celebrate annual awards at World Food Forum. The awards were announced in a virtual ceremony with the participation of FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Christian Hofer, Director-General of the Federal Office for Agriculture of Switzerland. The ceremony was held on the first day of the flagship event (1-5 October, 2021) of the World Food Forum – a youth-led movement and network to transform or agri-food systems. More... 01-10-2021
	Pastoralists benefit from the renovated well in Uzbekistan’s arid area. According to experts, overuse of pastures, as well as undergrazing, have a negative impact on the environment. If placed evenly throughout the pasture area, drinking wells for livestock can mitigate these negative consequences. The FAO multi-country project aided in the renovation of a well located near the village of Takham in southeast Uzbekistan, which in turn provides great support for local livestock breeders. More... 01-10-2021
	World Food Forum - Youth take charge of shaping the future of food. Pope Francis and world leaders address youth representatives as five-day meeting kicks off in Rome. The World Food Forum brings together youth from a broad range of backgrounds and expertise with the aim of spurring action to help transform agri-food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 ("No hunger"). More... 01-10-2021
	FAO Director-General urges G20: invest in rural areas and step up actions to eradicate hunger and poverty. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, urged Foreign Affairs and Development Ministers of G20 countries to make more investments in rural areas and double down on actions to eradicate hunger and poverty. Qu made the appeal at the Italy-presided G20 Foreign Affairs and Development Ministers' meeting where - for the first time - food security and nutrition were at the centre of the agenda. More... 29-06-2021
	Speech of FAO Director-General at G20 Meeting of Foreign Affairs and Development Ministers. QU Dongyu highlights that governments must refocus their energies and investment on rural areas. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu speeks during the joint G20 Foreign Affairs and Development Ministers’ Meeting. More... 29-06-2021
	Improving zoonotic disease prevention and livestock production through nuclear-derived techniques. A symposium organized by FAO and IAEA opened focusing on the prevention of animal disease outbreaks that can cause human pandemics like COVID-19, as well as ways to boost sustainable animal production to feed growing populations. The International Symposium on Sustainable Animal Production and Health virtually brings together over 2000 international experts in veterinary medicine, genetics and biochemistry to discuss topics such as emergency preparedness and response to outbreaks, advances in animal disease vaccine development and the latest biochemistry tools to improve livestock production, breeding and feed. More... 28-06-2021
	FAO Investment Centre’s Annual Review highlights successes in 2020 and beyond. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO Investment Centre has increased support to investment and policies in 120 countries across the world. Despite an unprecedented and challenging year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAO Investment Centre’s work to support sustainable investment in food and agriculture continued apace in 2020 - and is already in full swing in 2021, according to the latest edition of the Investment Centre’s Annual Review. More... 28-06-2021
	Georgia reaches out to agriculture community through first Olympiad competition. A country-wide competition in Georgia that is reaching out to all age groups aims to generate new interest in and knowledge of agriculture. The Olympiad competition, part of an Austria-funded FAO project, will see contestants battle in one out in four categories – farmer, student, schoolchildren, practitioner – with the ten top performers (in online tests) from each category progressing to the final soon. More... 28-06-2021
	FAO supports Ukraine in leveraging its agricultural export potential. Following a by the Government of Ukraine, FAO is supporting the country create a foreign agricultural attache infrastructure. The idea behind this is to help Ukrainian agrifood producers enter foreign markets, through increased awareness of the country’s food-production potential, and by providing professional in-market support to Ukrainian suppliers and future buyers. More... 25-06-2021
	FAO report maps insights from and threats to Indigenous Peoples’ food systems. Collaborative study looks at eight Indigenous Peoples’ food systems in Amazon, Sahel, Himalayas, Pacific Islands and Arctic, documenting unique capacity to conserve biodiversity and foster resilient food security and calls for recognizing land rights, and traditional practices. The report, titled Indigenous Peoples' Food System, Insights of sustainability and resilience from the front line of climate change, was launched on Friday. More... 25-06-2021
	Wholesale food markets are critical for agri-food systems transformation. FAO Director-General calls for greater co-operation to fight food insecurity. Speaking online to the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Conference held in Florence, the Director-General outlined how the COVID-19 pandemic had made it imperative to address inequalities in access to nutritious and healthy diets. He stressed that 3 billion people in the world could not afford a healthy diet and up to 132 million more could be pushed into hunger by the end of 2020. More... 25-06-2021
	Education is a key lifeline for world’s forests. New survey points out that forest education must be strengthened to meet global challenges. Forest education at all levels – from primary schools to universities – is insufficient in many countries of the world, according to the results of a global survey led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) with the support of other international and regional partners. More... 24-06-2021
	Hunger and malnutrition in the Arab region stand in the way of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030, UN report warns. A United Nations study indicates that hunger in the Arab region continues to rise, threatening the region's efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Zero Hunger goal. The latest edition of the Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition in the Near East and North Africa, published today, estimates that more than 51 million people in the region are suffering from hunger. More... 24-06-2021
	FAO promotes digital solutions for plant trade. Plant trade has come a long way in recent decades, but it still poses certain challenges and risks. Countries in Europe and Central Asia learned about a cutting-edge tool today, the ePhyto Solution – an electronic system for phytosanitary certification that makes trade between countries safer, faster, and cheaper. The ePhyto system is voluntary and all countries can join. More... 24-06-2021
	FAO and Spain pledge to continue collaborating closely on global food security and nutrition. First Partnership Report marks joint efforts and achievements of the last ten years. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kingdom of Spain today acknowledged their joint efforts to fight global hunger and malnutrition in the past decade and pledged to further strengthen their collaboration in the future at a virtual event to release the first edition of their Partnership Report entitled FAO + Spain: Working for global food security and nutrition to mark their long-standing co-operation. More... 21-06-2021
	FAO launches Green Cities Action Programme for Africa. A big push in a rapidly urbanizing continent kicked off today as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Green Cities Regional Action Programme for Africa. The Programme aims to apply innovative solutions and turn urbanization into an opportunity for cities to become more sustainable, more resilient, provide access to healthy foods and ensure a better life for everyone. More... 21-06-2021
	FAO Director-General opens the 8th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture. Opening the 8th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture QU Dongyu urged for new solutions and smarter ways to produce more food with less, and stressed that without a healthy environment, there are no healthy foods. The three-day virtual Congress is organized by the European Conservation Agriculture Federation (ECAF) and SWISS NO-TILL with the technical support of FAO. Its theme is: The Future of Farming: Profitable and Sustainable Farming with Conservation Agriculture. More... 21-06-2021
	FAO Conference endorses new Strategic Framework to drive agri-food systems transformation. Endorsed at the last day of the 42nd Session of FAO Conference, the supreme decision-making body that brings together all FAO Members - 194 countries plus the European Union, the Strategic Framework 2022-2031 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. More... 18-06-2021
	Private sector has a crucial role to play in ensuring healthy diets for all. The private sector can be a crucial ally in global efforts to make agri-food systems more resilient, sustainable, efficient and inclusive to ensure healthy diets for all. This was a key takeaway from the B20-G20-FAO Dialogue on Sustainable Food System, a joint initiative co-organized by the Business 20 (B20) Italy, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Italian Presidency of the G20. More... 17-06-2021
	Global Environment Facility approves over $46.6 million to support FAO-led projects. Eight countries will benefit from projects designed to support climate resilience and biodiversity, and combat land degradation and unsustainable fishing. FAO welcomed approval from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for five FAO-led projects in eight countries, totaling more than $46.6 million in funding. The decision was made during the 60th GEF Council Meeting and the 30th Least Developed Countries Fund Council Meeting. More... 17-06-2021
	Canada contributes over CAD 22 million for FAO’s COVID-19 response. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) welcomes a CAD 22.4 million (USD 17.7 million) contribution from Canada to boost the food security and livelihoods of vulnerable communities - especially women, youth and indigenous peoples - reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 in nine countries across Africa and Latin America. The CAD 22.4 million will benefit vulnerable communities at risk of or experiencing high acute food insecurity. More... 16-06-2021
	Syrian and Turkish women build a cooperative and economic independence in Turkey. FAO provided assistance to Syrian and Turkish women to establish a new cooperative for stuffed mussels in Izmir. FAO provided assistance to 10 Syrian and 10 Turkish women to establish a new cooperative for stuffed mussels in Izmir – an area famous for fresh produce – known as the Turna Cooperative. The local delicacy, called Midye dolma in Turkish, is a niche product with strong and stable consumer demand. More... 16-06-2021
	Ministers at FAO High Level Round Table agreed innovation is key to tackling hunger and climate change. Bill Gates delivers the prestigious McDougall Memorial Lecture during biennial FAO Conference. Innovation is needed across the entire spectrum of value chains in the world’s agri-food systems in order to respond to the two big challenges of climate change and hunger, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said at a high level round table. More... 15-06-2021
	Bill Gates highlights role of data and technology to end hunger at FAO Conference. Helping smallholder farmers, especially in low-income countries, invest in results-oriented climate-resilient agriculture is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and avoiding a "catastrophic economic crash," Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said in a special event during the 42nd Session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). More... 15-06-2021
	More trees in Armenia to help counter climate change. Armenia, which is highly vulnerable to climate change, has signed up to increase its forest cover and carbon removal from forests by reducing fuelwood demand and by introducing sustainable and climate-adaptive forest management techniques. This is envisaged through a forestry project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the first large-scale FAO project in Europe and Central Asia to be supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). More... 15-06-2021
	Balkan bytes: How digital agri-entrepreneurship is changing a country. In March of 2021, a Montenegrin cow became the first known exemplar of the species – indeed, the first farm asset of any kind – to be bought with a virtual currency in the western Balkans. Comically but appropriately enough, she was named Bitkoinka. The animal went for 0.013 bitcoin, the equivalent of USD 1 600 at the time. More... 14-06-2021
	First virtual FAO Conference kicks off with renewed calls for rebuilding a better world. FAO Members are set to approve the new Strategic Framework for the next decade. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, Italy's President Sergio Mattarella, Pope Francis, and others made a passionate call for tangible actions, innovative solutions, and continued commitment to rebuild a better, greener world anchored in efficient, resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food food systems that can provide healthy and affordable diets for all, and resist future crises. More... 14-06-2021
	PETER RABBIT™ teams up with the United Nations, FAO and the UN Foundation on global campaign to mobilize more food heroes. Worldwide initiative aims at supporting healthy agri-food systems. Peter and his friends from Sony Pictures' PETER RABBIT 2: THE RUNAWAY are joining the awareness-raising campaign that asks us all to be food heroes. "FAO celebrates food heroes who help transform our agri-food systems and try to make sure everyone, everywhere has access to enough affordable, nutritious and healthy foods," said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. More... 10-06-2021
	Global food trade is buoyant, as are prices. FAO’s new Food Outlook report tracks the risks associated with rising import bills amid broad upswing in prices. Global food trade is poised for a resilient year ahead even as international food commodity prices are set to remain high amid supply and demand uncertainties, according to a new report released today by FAO. The report notes that trade flows continued to reach new highs during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. More... 10-06-2021
	UN agencies concerned by looming famine in northern Ethiopia, call for urgent life-saving action to avert it. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF call for urgent action to address the dramatic acute food insecurity in northern Ethiopia. The three agencies are particularly concerned about the situation in Tigray region where the risk of famine is imminent, unless food, livelihood assistance and other life-saving interventions continue to be scaled-up, unimpeded access is guaranteed, and hostilities cease. More... 10-06-2021
	Child labour in agriculture is on the rise again, with further deterioration foreseen due to COVID-19. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations called today for agri-food systems to be transformed in order to also address the rise of child labour in agriculture, a situation mainly driven by hunger and poverty and now exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plea was made by the FAO Director General QU Dongyu at a 109th International Labour Conference high-level event, co-organised by UNICEF, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to mark World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June. More... 10-06-2021
	New G20 Garden plants green future in Rome’s ancient heart. FAO and Italy unveil sustainability-themed landscaping project. FAO in co-operation with the Italian Presidency of the G20 opened Rome's first garden dedicated to the concept of sustainable development. The "G20 Green Garden" is being billed as a space where recreation and the embrace of nature meet education on themes of global import. More... 10-06-2021
	Albania steps forward to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet global climate goals. FAO is supporting the Government of Albania define and implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). FAO has already started to visit schools, farms, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Tirana and other regions affected by climate-related shocks to raise awareness of climate-change impacts, as well as climate actions that everyone can practise daily to mitigate environmental impacts and adapt to the changing environment. More... 10-06-2021
	Uzbekistan gears up for UN Food Systems Summit through dialogue events. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), organised a national dialogue to prepare for the UN Food Systems Summit, a major global event which is planned for September. More... 09-06-2021
	Off-farm activities are a growing share of food-system greenhouse gas emissions. The report, "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Food System: Building the Evidence Base", estimates that food-system emissions amounted to 16 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide or equivalents (CO2eq) in 2018, an 8 percent increase since 1990. They now represent 33 percent of all human-caused GHG emissions. More... 08-06-2021
	Ambitious $104 million program targets land degradation in Africa and Central Asian countries. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes helps pave the way for initiatives linked to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Program will be implemented in partnership with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the World Bank, and the World Wildlife Fund. More... 08-06-2021
	FAO, WHO set an example of collaborative action for safe food with a systems approach. A joint Food and Agriculture Organization–World Health Organization (FAO–WHO)­ virtual event today brought together relevant actors in Europe and Central Asia for World Food Safety Day, to discuss ways of improving food safety in the context of sustainable food systems. World Food Safety Day focusses attention and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of food safety, demonstrate appropriate actions to prevent illness, and foster collaboration across sectors for improved food safety. More... 07-06-2021
	Project kicks off for efficient and sustainable small ruminant production. A regional virtual workshop marked the launch of an FAO project that aims to increase the effectiveness of small ruminant production and reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity. Funded by Turkey, the project is designed to increase knowledge on efficient small ruminant production systems in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. More... 07-06-2021
	Food safety is everyone’s business. Science plays a fundamental role in ensuring the safety of our food now as well as tomorrow as we prepare for new and emerging challenges – that was the main message at a virtual event organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to celebrate the third edition of World Food Safety Day. More... 07-06-2021
	Director-General opens special session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). Agroecology, digital technologies and innovation all form part of the holistic redesign of the world's agri-food systems to make them "more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable," QU Dongyu said. The Director-General spoke at the opening of the 48th Special Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the inclusive multistakeholder platform set up to allow all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all. More... 04-06-2021
	Re-imagine, Recreate, Restore! UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration kicks off. Leaders in global politics, science, communities, religion and culture joined hands today to officially kick off the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration - a rallying call for the protection and revival of millions of hectares of ecosystems all around the world for the benefit of people and nature. Led by the UNEP and the FAO, the Decade on Restoration - which runs from 2021 to 2030 - was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in a 2019 resolution. More... 04-06-2021
	Worsening soil pollution threatens future food production and ecosystems, FAO-UNEP. Worsening soil pollution and waste proliferation threaten the future of global food production, human health and the environment, and require an urgent global response, according to a joint report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme. More... 04-06-2021
	Global food prices rise at rapid pace in May. Global food prices rose in May at their fastest monthly rate in more than a decade, even as world cereal production is on course to reach a new record high, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported today. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 127.1 points in May, 4.8 percent higher than in April and 39.7 percent higher than in May 2020. More... 03-06-2021
	Climate change fans spread of pests and threatens plants and crops, new FAO study. The Scientific Review on the Impact of Climate Change on Plant Pests - A global challenge to prevent and mitigate plant pest risks in agriculture, forestry and ecosystems by Professor Maria Lodovica Gullino, University of Turin (Italy), and ten co-authors from around the world was prepared under the auspices of the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, hosted by FAO, and is one of the key initiatives of the International Year of Plant Health, which is coming to an end this month. More... 02-06-2021
	UN urges intense restoration of nature to address climate and biodiversity crises. The report, Becoming #GenerationRestoration: Ecosystem restoration for people, nature and climate, highlights that humanity is using about 1.6 times the amount of services that nature can provide sustainably. That means conservation efforts alone are insufficient to prevent large-scale ecosystem collapse and biodiversity loss. More... 02-06-2021
	Apps and animations improve traditional dairy production in Kazakhstan. FAO’s Collect Mobile app and Smart Milk digital portal are boosting farmers’ livelihoods. These innovations are helping to change the game in Kazakh’s dairy industry. Farmers improve their production thanks to readily accessible technical know-how and advice. And they can boost their incomes through stable sales to processing companies. More... 01-06-2021
	Addressing hunger is the "foundation for stability and peace". Addressing hunger and poverty is the “foundation for stability and peace”, said QU Dongyu, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), at a webinar hosted by the Vatican to discuss the link between conflict and hunger. Entitled "Food for All: Food conflicts and the future of food systems", the webinar explored the topic of food insecurity and conflict, and discussed how best to address hunger and food insecurity around the world. More... 01-06-2021
	Global action is stepping up in the fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. Global action is making a major difference in efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, but more needs to be done as consumer demand and fish production continue to rise. The Director-General was speaking at a High-Level Event at the Third Meeting of the Parties of the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA), a virtual event hosted by the European Union. More... 31-05-2021
	FAO crop experiment sees lower pesticide use reap rewards in Turkey. FAO, jointly with Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and other local partners, is helping to ensure Turkish consumers get their daily apple free of both pests and pesticides. FAO supports sustainable crop production and provides alternatives to pesticides through the project ‘Lifecycle Management of Pesticides and Disposal of POPs Pesticides in Central Asian countries and Turkey’, which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). More... 31-05-2021
	Nobel insights into using social media for development. Mass communication using social media is a key tool in development, Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo said today at a seminar hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Duflo's talk was based on research - related to the COVID-19 pandemic - using randomized control trials (RCTs) to make "messaging to poor people" more effective. "That's at the core of a lot of potential strategies in developing countries," she said. More... 31-05-2021
	Climate change and indigenous peoples, afro-descendants and migrants examined at global seminar. Indigenous peoples and afro-descendants' knowledge, innovations and resilience capacities are essential for the transformation to a more sustainable and climate-friendly world and should be included in the policy-making processes, agreed the High-Level Seminar convened today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the governments of Costa Rica, Spain and the Vatican. More... 28-05-2021
	Harnessing the power of the EU-FAO partnership for sustainable agri-food systems transformation. The European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded today the 2021 edition of the EU-FAO Strategic Dialogue, underlining that there is an ambitious common agenda that will put people and the planet at the heart of a partnership towards more efficient, resilient, inclusive and sustainable agri-food systems. More... 27-05-2021
	Digitalization offers agriculture a faster pathway to recovery from COVID-19 crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today carried out a webinar – focusing on Europe and Central Asia – that looked at the multiple challenges of digital agriculture, and at the innovation and change that can result from embracing digital technology. The recording of the event is now available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it13EvasgvY). More... 27-05-2021
	FAO-UNEP call for bold move to restore world’s ecosystems. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today warned that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – also known as the 2030 Agenda – would not be achieved without large-scale restoration of degraded terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Qu was speaking at a joint "townhall meeting" that brought together staff from FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). More... 25-05-2021
	Embedding biodiversity in all we do. Conserving biodiversity is a central part of making peace with nature, and every person, sector and institution has a role to play, global leaders concurred at a United Nations (UN) virtual event today. "We are all part of the solution and you can count on the food and agriculture sector to play its part," QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), said in a panel discussion with the heads of other UN agencies. More... 25-05-2021
	Europe and Central Asia: "economic and agricultural powerhouse" with solutions at hand. The region of Europe and Central Asia is an economic and agricultural powerhouse that boasts diverse cultures, agri-food systems and climatic zones, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today. This diversity, he added, provides opportunities to share experience and good practices within the region and beyond, but to tap this potential the region needs more investment and innovation. More... 21-05-2021
	FAO "walks the talk" on climate. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations launched a new Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy that aims to reduce the Organization’s total Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by 45 percent by 2030. The ambitious new emissions reduction strategy focuses on improving the sustainability of daily operations, including the introduction of energy efficiency measures in facilities, updating travel policies to reduce travel-related emissions, and improving water use and recycling schemes. More... 21-05-2021
	Strengthening health and agri-food systems must go hand-in-hand. Health and agri-food systems must be strengthened and improved to counter the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to avoid a global food crisis. "Beyond jeopardizing human health, the pandemic is also disrupting our agri-food systems that are the core to our health and life," the FAO Director-General told world leaders at the virtual Global Health Summit of the G20. "We need to take immediate action, to avoid a global food crisis with long-term impacts." More... 21-05-2021
	Celebrating tea is celebrating peace, culture and hope. Global demand for tea has seen a remarkable increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a new momentum to build a sustainable and resilient tea sector while preserving its unique character of bringing people together. This was a key takeaway from a FAO-hosted virtual high-level event to mark the International Tea Day 2021. More... 21-05-2021
	New international expert panel to address the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. International organizations have come together to launch a new One Health High-Level Expert Panel to improve understanding of how diseases with the potential to trigger pandemics, emerge and spread. The panel will advise four international organizations - WHO, FAO, OIE and UNEP - on the development of a long-term global plan of action to avert outbreaks of diseases like H5N1 avian influenza; MERS; Ebola; Zika, and, possibly, COVID-19. More... 20-05-2021
	Bees are fundamental to our lives, says FAO Director-General. Today, on the occasion of the fourth observance of World Bee Day, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the important role that bees and other pollinators play in ensuring ecosystems services, food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, at a high-level virtual gathering under the theme ‘Bee engaged - Build Back Better for Bees'. "We need food systems that are more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. Bees play a major role in that. They are important to our food security, nutrition and the environment." More... 20-05-2021
	Potential brewing for Azerbaijani and Georgian tea industries. FAO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) hosted the roundtable event to highlight the countries’ potential to produce high quality and specialty teas. They also shared findings from their joint tea sector reviews, including options for developing the industries sustainably. More... 20-05-2021
	Half of the population in the Central African Republic in the grip of dire food insecurity emergency, UN warns. Nearly half of the population - 47 percent - suffers from high and surging acute food insecurity in the Central African Republic as the country reels from the impacts of ongoing conflict and COVID-19, and braces for another harsh May-August lean season, warn the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). More... 19-05-2021
	The challenge of BEE-ing in a pandemic. Women are the new face of beekeeping in rural Georgia, helping keep a steady family income during COVID-19. With the COVID-19 crisis heavily affecting the economy in Georgia, decimating the tourism industry and sales of wine many people of the region have found themselves out of income. Families struggled to meet ends, and very often women became the main provider of income for their households. More... 19-05-2021
	FAO launches dialogue in Turkey to increase social protection for rural communities. What challenges do vulnerable agricultural communities face in accessing rural social protection, and how can social security be extended to those not covered by the system? The online event, coordinated by FAO and Ankara University, emphasized the importance of expanding the social security net to include people in dire need, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 18-05-2021
	"Digitalization is the way of the new life and the new economy". Digital agriculture can drive the transformation of agri-food systems necessary to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty and build a better future for all humankind, QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO said today. "Digitalization is the way of the new life and the new economy," he said at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2021. "This is both a tremendous responsibility and an unprecedented opportunity for all of us." More... 18-05-2021
	The world is converging on the need for sustainable agri-food systems. In a sign that food security and nutrition are increasingly seen as key vectors for sustainable development, the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD) approved a resolution likely to enrich and intensify discussions at the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit. FAO leads UN Commission on Population and Development to call for actions that favor responsible consumption and production patterns. More... 14-05-2021
	EU contribution of ˆ8 million will strengthen gains in Desert Locust fight. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has welcomed an ˆ8 million contribution from the European Union (EU) that will enable countries in the Horn of Africa to maintain a state of readiness in the face of a possible resurgence of Desert Locusts. The European Commission announced the funding as another example of the EU's sustained commitment to control this upsurge since its early days in 2020. More... 13-05-2021
	Veterinary vaccines protect humans as well as animals, says Director-General. Veterinary vaccines and immunization protect not only animals but also public health, says QU Dongyu. He spoke at the virtual launch of a new FAO-led publication entitled "Veterinary Vaccines: Principles and Applications". The Director-General also highlighted the need for scaling up the One Health - One Planet approach to tackle diseases from all fronts, given the interconnected relationship between the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. More... 13-05-2021
	New FAO-led food security and nutrition report for Europe and Central Asia elaborates on the costs of a healthy diet. According to the Europe and Central Asia Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious threats to food security and nutrition, especially for low-income and vulnerable populations in the region. Although severe hunger has not been a major issue in Europe and Central Asia in the past 20 years, the region is in part facing an increase of moderate food insecurity. More... 12-05-2021
	Q&A on Pests and Pesticide Management. Pesticides are any substance or mixture of substances of chemical or biological ingredients intended for repelling, destroying or controlling any pest, or for regulating plant growth. The term pesticide applies to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, molluscicides, wood preservatives and various other substances used to control pests. Pesticides also include plant growth regulators, defoliants and desiccants. More... 12-05-2021
	Director-General hails FAO employees for their dedication and resilience amid pandemic. In April 2020 FAO had its first-ever global town hall meeting. The event brought employees worldwide together virtually with the Director-General for a direct exchange and dialogue. Today the Organization held its third town hall meeting, leading Director-General QU Dongyu to suggest the unprecedented initiative he launched last year is now a "new normal". More... 11-05-2021
	Southern Madagascar: Government and UN sound the alarm on famine risk, urge action. With each day that passes, more lives are at stake as hunger tightens its grip in southern Madagascar. This is the stark warning from two United Nations agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), as they seek to draw international attention to a humanitarian crisis that risks being invisible. More... 11-05-2021
	FAO joins Morocco-led celebrations for the first UN International Day of Argania. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today marked the first UN International Day of Argania by participating in a high-level virtual event in Morocco that highlighted the importance of argan trees in preserving biodiversity and providing livelihoods. Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, said the event was “a great opportunity” for Morocco and for the dry zones of Africa to highlight the importance of the argan tree. More... 10-05-2021
	Unlock and Unblock: twin track to boost food security in Africa. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, warned that severe underfunding of the agri-food sector was preventing Africa from reaching its potential. He spoke at the launch of FAO's latest report, Public Expenditure on Food and Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, which reveals the gap between long-standing political commitments and financial reality in 13 sub-Saharan African countries. More... 10-05-2021
	FAO will implement a new Nutrition Strategy to ensure healthy diets for all. After an extensive consultative and iterative process over the last two years, the Vision and Strategy for FAO's Work in Nutrition (FAO’s Nutrition Strategy) was endorsed at the 166th Session of the FAO Council last week. The new strategy establishes FAO’s objectives for nutrition going forward and provides a framework to guide FAO’s action over the next five years. More... 07-05-2021
	Science, technology and innovation are crucial to efforts aimed at transforming agri-food systems. FAO Chief Scientist Ismahane Elouafi this week presented the UN Food Systems Summit 2021 Science Days (July 8-9) at a high-level United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) event, and stressed the central role of science, technology and innovation for the transformation of agri-food systems. More... 07-05-2021
	Urgent and scaled-up action needed to reduce suffering in South Sudan. Urgent and scaled-up efforts to help those who produce South Sudan's food can make a notable contribution to mitigate suffering in a country, where three out of every five people cannot meet their daily food needs, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, said today. More... 06-05-2021
	International food prices continue rising in April. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 120.9 points in April, 1.7 percent higher than March and 30.8 percent higher than its level in the same month last year. The index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, reached its highest level since May 2014, and in nominal terms is 12 percent below its all-time peak in February 2011. More... 06-05-2021
	EU and FAO call for the transformation of agri-food systems. The EU and FAO have agreed to increase joint efforts to transform agri-food systems, in order to make them more inclusive, efficient, resilient and sustainable.The FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and EU Commissioners for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen; for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides; and for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, spoke at the launch of the 2021 EU-FAO Strategic Dialogue. More... 06-05-2021
	A high-tech response is helping countries win the battle against Desert Locusts. The Desert Locust is a formidable enemy and in the past year, waves of the insect swept East Africa, Yemen and southwest Asia. FAO, with partners and donors, developed high-tech tools that revolutionised locust surveillance and treatment, helping affected countries to effectively control them. More... 05-05-2021
	FAO assesses Tajikistan’s capacity to detect and diagnose animal diseases. As part of a new initiative to create a Central Asia Animal Health Network (CAAHN), FAO has embarked on assessing the surveillance and laboratory diagnostic capabilities of these countries. The evaluation has concluded already in Kyrgyzstan and recently in Tajikistan, while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are expected to follow later this year. More... 05-05-2021
	Acute food insecurity soars to five-year high warns Global Report on Food Crises. The number of people facing acute food insecurity and needing urgent life and livelihood-saving assistance has hit a five-year high in 2020 in countries beset by food crises, an annual report launched today by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) - an international alliance of the UN, the EU, governmental and non-governmental agencies working to tackle food crises together - has found. More... 05-05-2021
	FAO Council ends successfully and paves the way for the first virtual Conference in history. The 166th Session of the FAO Council, the third session held entirely virtually, ended today with its Members praising the Organization's main actions and initiatives to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to foster sustainable development, as well as supporting the proposed documents to guide the Organization's work over the next years. More... 01-05-2021
	FAO and WFP launch global consultation to help alleviate hunger and transform agri-food systems. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have launched an online public consultation to obtain inputs on how the UN agencies can collaborate in key areas in the coming years. The consultation will feed into the operationalization of FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and the preparation of WFP's Strategic Plan 2022-2026. More... 30-04-2021
	FAO and BADEA scale-up partnership in support of African countries. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) have formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU was signed by FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu and BADEA Director General Mr Sidi Ould Tah in a virtual ceremony on the margins of the ‘High-Level Dialogue on Feeding Africa: Leadership to Scale up Successful Innovations’ Even. More... 29-04-2021
	UN General Assembly to hold High-level Interactive Dialogue on Antimicrobial Resistance - a global health and development threat. Calling for accelerated action to tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozk?r, is convening a High-level Interactive Dialogue of the General Assembly on Antimicrobial Resistance on Thursday 29 April. World leaders, to be joined by UN experts, business and civil society leaders, are expected to discuss practical steps to address AMR in the midst of COVID-19 recovery plans. More... 28-04-2021
	Collaborative Partnership on Forests calls for halt to deforestation. A group of 15 international organizations working on forestry today issued a joint statement highlighting the need to halt the destruction of the world's forests. Chaired by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) comprises UN agencies, four conventions and other organizations with substantial programmes on forests, and supports the work of the United Nations Forum on Forests and its member countries. More... 26-04-2021
	Historic opportunities for global action to eradicate poverty, end hunger and reduce inequalities. Addressing the 166th Session of the FAO Council today, Director-General QU Dongyu highlighted the ways FAO has been providing constant support to Members, including to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of the decisions, activities and results shared with Council today are "not an isolated exercise, but part of an interlinked chain of progress," he said. More... 26-04-2021
	Healthy forests are key to "building back better". Healthy forests are key to "building back better", FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today in his video address to the high-level round table at the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF, 26-30 April 2021). According to FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, the world is losing 10 million hectares of forest each year through deforestation. In addition, land degradation affects almost 2 billion hectares, an area larger than South America. More... 26-04-2021
	Small family farmers produce a third of the world’s food. The world's smallholder farmers produce around a third of the world's food, according to detailed new research by the FAO. Five of every six farms in the world consist of less than two hectares, operate only around 12 percent of all agricultural land, and produce roughly 35 percent of the world's food, according to a study published in World Development. More... 23-04-2021
	FAO, OIE and WHO call for stronger coordination in mitigating health threats. In a joint statement released today, FAO, OIE and WHO, committed to strengthening multi-sectoral coordination and efforts to combat health threats associated with interactions between humans, animals, and the environment across Europe and Central Asia. This message was reiterated in a virtual event of the regional Tripartite members. More... 23-04-2021
	Rome Call for Artificial Intelligence ethics draws global interest. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a booming field drawing in large investments and already leading to major breakthroughs in the fields of drug discovery, chemical and molecular synthesis, computer vision systems and language models. It promises to catalyze revolutions in agri-food systems as well, and the FAO is already deploying it and looking at its longer-term ramifications. More... 22-04-2021
	Keeping soils alive and healthy is key to sustain life on our planet. The Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) drew to a close with a call to recognize and enhance the role of soil organisms in sustaining life on Earth. Soils are one of the main global reservoirs of biodiversity. They host more than 25 percent of the world's supply of this valued resource from where 95 percent of the food we eat is produced. In addition, more than 40 percent of living organisms in terrestrial ecosystems are connected with soils during their life cycle. More... 22-04-2021
	FAO Director-General marks Earth Day with sustainability plea. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today told participants in a virtual Food for Earth "global marathon" that sustainability was a "fundamental concept and a cross-cutting theme throughout the Organization’s activities, interventions and initiatives". More... 22-04-2021
	FAO and the European Space Agency unite to support countries in achieving the SDGs. A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Organizations was signed today by Maximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist, and Toni Tolker-Nielsen, ESA Acting Director of Earth Observation Programmes. The agreement paves the way for exchanging relevant expertise and developing applications in which Earth observation images can be used to better monitor agri-food systems. More... 20-04-2021
	Giving a voice to soil organisms – our silent allies in the fight against hunger. The Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity hosted by FAO kicked off yesterday with a call to preserve this vast community of living soil organisms and the vital ecosystem services they provide. Soils are one of the main global reservoirs of biodiversity. They host more than 25 percent of the world's supply of this valued resource from where 95 percent of the food we eat is produced. More... 20-04-2021
	Advanced weather data benefit Tajik smallholder farmers. Tajikistan is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in Central Asia. In 2019, FAO, with the support of the European Union, installed three automated weather stations, each in a different region characterized by intensive production of grapes, apricots, and cottons. The weather stations support the Agrometeorology Department in gathering important climate data from each region and producing advanced agrometeorological information for the local producers on weather changes, plant diseases, and yield forecasts, all of which help them mitigate the impact of climate change. More... 20-04-2021
	New Handbook for Parliamentarians - practical guidance on transforming food systems and improving nutrition. Aimed at providing lawmakers with practical guidance on legislative processes that prioritize nutrition, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published today a new Handbook for Parliamentarians, entitled "Food Systems and Nutrition". More... 19-04-2021
	Latin America and the Caribbean are "pillar for world food security". Latin America and the Caribbean "are truly a pillar for world food security," QU Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO, said in an address to more than 30 ministers from the region and North America. The Director-General hailed the region's contribution to preventing the COVID-19 health crisis from becoming a food crisis. "Now you need to be the architects of recovery, a recovery with transformation," he urged. More... 16-04-2021
	Fight against fall armyworm: good progress, more efforts needed. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, today hailed progress in the fight against one of the most destructive pests jeopardizing food security across vast regions of the globe – while urging renewed drive and scaling up of efforts. More... 16-04-2021
	FAO and the African Union Commission launch a guide to help countries enter Africa's new single market. The Framework for Boosting Intra-African Trade in Agricultural Commodities and Services is a blueprint for expanding agricultural trade between African countries and aims to unlock the potential of the agricultural sector to contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth for Africa. Increased trade represents a paradigm shift away from business as usual and is an important part of the collaborative work towards boosting food security and nutrition for all Africans. More... 15-04-2021
	New effort strengthens regional collaboration against wheat rust diseases. The FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture has launched a new project to strengthen regional collaboration and national capacities for management of wheat rust diseases and resistance breeding in Central Asia and Caucasus (CAC-Rust). Covering seven countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – the project will run until 2024. More... 14-04-2021
	Experts examine ways to reduce harvest and post-harvest food losses. Post-harvest food loss is a leading cause of food insecurity for millions of people across the world. FAO organized a webinar to support farmers and producers in revising and improving the practices that result in food losses after harvest. At the virtual event, whose recording is now available online, prominent experts and practitioners across the region presented the most recent and relevant solutions and successes. More... 14-04-2021
	Food Coalition gains momentum as food security is featured on the G20 agenda. Worsening hunger levels and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic called for a fresh approach and a strengthened commitment to global action ahead of the Group of 20 (G20) to prevent a food crisis, according to the FAO and the Italian Government. Italy's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Marina Sereni, joined FAO at an informal virtual briefing to promote the Food Coalition , a global alliance established by FAO in November 2020 after it was proposed by the Italian Government in response to the pandemic. More... 14-04-2021
	FAO Director-General QU Dongyu designates European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet FAO Goodwill Ambassador. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet was named Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Goodwill Ambassador today, the International Day of Human Space Flight. Pesquet will help FAO raise awareness about the importance of transforming the world's agri-food systems, making them more resilient, inclusive, efficient and sustainable to overcome the challenges of persisting and growing hunger, and preserving the planet's environment and biodiversity. More... 12-04-2021
	Signs of hope in East Africa, as control campaign tames locust upsurge. But FAO calls for increased surveillance to lock in gains, prevent a resurgence. In this Q&A interview, FAO Senior Desert Locust Forecaster Keith Cressman and Cyril Ferrand, Manager of FAO's Desert Locust response in East Africa, discuss progress made in containing the threat posed by the voracious pest in East Africa. More... 12-04-2021
	FAO's flagship Hand-In-Hand initiative aimed at eradicating poverty and hunger builds momentum. Progress made by countries in fighting poverty and hunger under FAO's flagship Hand-In-Hand Initiative during the last 18 months came under the spotlight at a technical briefing organized by FAO's Liaison Office in New York and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). More... 10-04-2021
	Female farmers to improve livelihoods with support of experienced peers. Empowering rural women through agriculture has great potential in the country; according to the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan, 77 percent of women reside in rural areas, and the percentage of female entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing is higher than men (32 to 24 percent). However, women face a number of challenges hindering them from leveraging their full potential. In total, women do an average of six hours of unpaid work, while men spend only two hours on the same. More... 09-04-2021
	Integrating social protection and agriculture to improve diets in Kyrgyzstan. Since 2016, under the Russian-funded project "Developing Capacity for Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Selected Countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia," FAO has been supporting Kyrgyzstan in aligning social protection with agriculture and rural development through the Cash+ approach. More... 08-04-2021
	FAO and Uzbekistan sign an agreement guiding collaboration on food and agriculture. A roundtable meeting marked the official launch of the FAO–Uzbekistan Country Programming Framework (CPF), covering the period 2021–2025 and giving impetus and further guidance to their partnership. In line with national sustainability priorities, FAO signed up to support the Government in implementing the 2030 Agenda and help Uzbekistan achieve sustainable food systems along the entire agrifood value chain. More... 08-04-2021
	Global food prices rise for 10th month in a row. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 118.5 points in March, 2.1 percent higher than in February and reaching its highest level since June 2014. Trends varied by commodity types. More... 08-04-2021
	Global initiative tackles marine litter to clean up the world’s oceans. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has partnered with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and 30 countries in a major initiative to tackle marine litter and clean up the world's oceans. The GloLitter Partnerships Project is being implemented by FAO in partnership with the IMO, with initial funding from the Government of Norway through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). More... 08-04-2021
	Eating healthy before, during and after COVID-19. FAO resources to help you stay healthy whatever the circumstance. The COVID-19 pandemic has made us refocus on the actions we can take to keep healthy. Maintaining a healthy diet, for example, plays a central role in our overall health and immune. Diets vary widely around the globe, influenced by access, incomes, habits and culture. Here are 6 healthy eating habits and FAO resources to help you out. More... 07-04-2021
	Scale of acute hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo "staggering", FAO, WFP warn. The number of people affected by high acute food insecurity in the DRC is estimated at 27.3 million or one in three people, including nearly seven million people grappling with emergency levels of acute hunger (IPC 4), according to the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. This makes the central African country home to the highest number of people in urgent need of food security assistance in the world. More... 06-04-2021
	Scientists study Malaga’s globally important agricultural heritage to search for climate resiliency. The "Malaga Raisin Production System in La Axarquia" project was selected as a pioneer case study in Europe and Central Asia, receiving recognition as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by FAO in 2017. The area represents an example of Mediterranean agriculture that has survived for 500 years, providing food security and livelihoods to the local community. More... 01-04-2021
	Harnessing local agriculture production to create healthy diets. Harnessing local agriculture production around the world to create healthy diets through agri-food system-transformation was the focus of a high-level event organized by the FAO and involving leaders and experts. Under the framework of its Regional Network on Nutrition-sensitive Food System, FAO's Regional Office for Near East and North Africa co-hosted the special virtual event with FAO's Regional Offices for Africa and for Asia and the Pacific. More... 01-04-2021
	Winners of International Day of Forests 2021 photo contest announced. Photographs from the Russian federation, Belarus, and Spain have won the International Day of Forests 2021 photo contest, which celebrated the ways in which trees contribute to people’s well-being across the world. Over 700 photos of trees that support mental or physical health were submitted from 70 countries. More... 01-04-2021
	The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognise 120 Tree Cities of the World. A total of 120 cities from 23 countries earned this international designation in 2020, including Toronto, Canada; New York, USA; Guadalajara, Mexico; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Campo Grande, Brazil; Hyderabad, India; and Kampala, Uganda. More... 30-03-2021
	New report shows Indigenous and Tribal Peoples ‘best guardians' of forests. Jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC), "Forest Governance by Indigenous and Tribal Peoples" also shows that improving the tenure security of these territories is an efficient and cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions. More... 25-03-2021
	UN initiative helps farmers in Albania invest in local agricultural production. FAO provides assistance to Albanian farmers through agricultural grants that aim to add value to local agricultural production. The project supports smallholders through facilitating good practices on rural income diversification, innovative short food value chains, and farmers' cooperation, as well as promoting authentic products and a "from farm to tourist" approach. More... 25-03-2021
	Hundreds of veterinarians trained virtually in African swine fever preparedness. In Europe and Central Asia, FAO has remotely trained hundreds of animal health professionals in African swine fever (ASF) preparedness. African swine fever is a viral disease of pigs (and wild boar) with a lethality rate of up to 100 percent that leads to huge economic losses, trade disruptions, and challenges to livelihoods. Rampaging throughout three continents, never before in history has the disease had such a wide distribution with so many millions of pigs affected and killed. More... 24-03-2021
	Moldovan agriculture set to become more resilient against climate change. FAO launched a new project on mainstreaming climate change adaptation into the country’s national planning processes for reduced vulnerability to climate change at local and central levels. The activity, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment and financially supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), complements a broader effort of the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. More... 24-03-2021
	Acute hunger set to soar in over 20 countries, warn FAO and WFP. Acute hunger is set to soar in over 20 countries in the coming months without urgent and scaled-up assistance, warn the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) in a new report issued today. Yemen, South Sudan and northern Nigeria top the list and face catastrophic levels of acute hunger, with families in pockets of South Sudan and Yemen already in the grip of or at risk of starvation and death according to the "Hunger Hotspots" report. More... 23-03-2021
	Science, policy and capacity key to future of agriculture, FAO Director-General says. Hunger is on the rise, Director-General Qu said in his keynote address, and has been for the last six years. Even before COVID-19 struck, there were nearly 690 million undernourished people; the pandemic likely added a further 132 million to the ranks of the hungry in 2020, he stated, citing FAO’s "2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World" report. More... 23-03-2021
	"Safeguarding water means safeguarding humanity," says FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in World Water Day celebration. Water is an "essential element of every aspect of development", QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today during a large virtual celebration to mark World Water Day 2021. More... 22-03-2021
	Green Climate Fund approves $80 million in FAO-led projects in Congo and Jordan. Two FAO-designed projects, one focusing on agroforestry in sub-Saharan Africa and the other on water management in the Near East, have received $80 million, paving the way to improve the livelihoods of more than 250 000 smallholders. The Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved the funds for initiatives in the Republic of Congo and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. More... 19-03-2021
	Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being, says FAO Director-General. Opening the high-level ceremony to mark the International Day of Forests, the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, described forest restoration as a path to global recovery and well-being. "Healthy forests mean healthy people. Forests provide us with fresh air, nutritious foods, clean water and space for recreation, and also for civilization to continue," the Director-General said. More... 19-03-2021
	Trainings of artificial insemination specialists improve cattle productivity and livelihoods in Azerbaijan. Considering the many challenges small-scale cattle breeders face, FAO launched a project on artificial insemination to boost breeders’ livelihoods. The project aims to improve breeding and service quality in the livestock sector through a better organized and high-quality system for delivering artificial insemination and animal production services to farms. More... 18-03-2021
	Disasters take heavy toll on agri-food systems as new threats emerge. Agriculture absorbs the bulk of the financial losses and damages wrought by disasters which have grown in frequency, intensity, and complexity, says FAO in a new report. FAO's recurring report "The Impact of Disasters and Crises on Agriculture and Food Security" presents the most recent trends in agricultural production loss attributed to disasters across all agricultural sectors. The 2021 edition covers 457 disasters in 109 countries across all regions and income categories. More... 18-03-2021
	Italy to set the stage for UN Food Systems Summit with three-day event that will deliver bold new ambitions. The United Nations and the Government of Italy announced today that the Pre-Summit gathering for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit will be in Rome, Italy from July 19 to July 21, 2021. Under the leadership of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, the Pre-Summit event will bring together the efforts and contributions of a global engagement process to shape ambition to transform food systems. More... 17-03-2021
	Ensuring plant health in a post-COVID-19 world. Every year, up to 40 percent of global crop production - worth over $200 billion - is lost to plant pests and diseases. The 15th Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-15) - the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) - began meeting today to set standards to curb the spread of plant pests and review the state of plant health and protection worldwide. More... 16-03-2021
	Science, technology and innovation are key to transform agri-food systems in Central Asia. With focus on science, technology and innovation, Central Asian countries can contribute to agri-food systems transformation and serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today at the Third Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Central Asia. The virtual event, hosted by the Government of Kyrgyz Republic, focused on innovations in agri-food systems. More... 15-03-2021
	Director-General highlights valuing water as a “game changer" in Near East. Governance, innovation and capacity building are the high roads to coping with water scarcity in Iraq and neighboring countries, which have been home to agricultural civilizations for 5000 years, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today. "Effective water governance needs transparency, meaningful participation from diverse stakeholders and robust accountability mechanisms in place", he said. More... 13-03-2021
	FAO and JR Farms join forces to support youth-led initiatives in agribusiness in Rwanda. FAO in Rwanda has signed an agreement with JR Farms Limited to promote youth involvement in agriculture and create decent work opportunities. JR Farms is a Rwandan led agri-enterprise operating in the areas of food processing and retailing, agro commodity trading and consulting. Its corporate goals are to ensure food security, end hunger in Africa and create decent jobs for Africa's women and young people. More... 12-03-2021
	FAO starts the dialogue on COVID-19 impact on fisheries and aquaculture for Europe and Central Asia. An FAO webinar provided an opportunity for governments, experts, civil society, and the industry to take stock on the response of fisheries and aquaculture to the COVID-19 crisis. The recording of the virtual event is now available online. More... 12-03-2021
	Sustainable land and water use in the Republic of Moldova. In the Republic of Moldova, over 140 000 rural people will benefit from integrated natural resource management and the sustainability of land and water resources, thanks to a new USD 1.66 million project launched today. The three-year effort will improve the provision of ecosystem services from the local landscape. More... 11-03-2021
	FAO aims to provide livelihood assistance to nearly 49 million people in 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict and climate-related crises drive acute levels of hunger higher, FAO is seeking $1.1 billion in 2021 to save the lives and livelihoods of some of the world's most food-insecure people. In 2021, FAO is aiming to reach more than 48.9 million people who rely on agriculture for their survival and livelihoods through interventions aimed at boosting local food production and nutrition, while strengthening the capacity and resilience of communities to prepare for and cope with crises, as well as providing post-disaster livelihoods support to help people resume production. More... 11-03-2021
	FAO and Ireland celebrate collaboration and renew commitment to partnership. FAO Director-General and Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine mark FAO-Ireland partnership with launch of a new publication. A new publication "FAO + Ireland: Partnering for a peaceful, equal and sustainable world" was launched at the event, detailing, for the first time, the visible results achieved at global, regional and country levels through the FAO + Ireland partnership. More... 10-03-2021
	Transparent and open food commodity markets are vital for food security and nutrition. Open and transparent food commodity markets and efficient supply chains are paramount to ensure that everyone has access to adequate, safe and nutritious food during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today at the opening of the 74th Session of the FAO's Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP). More... 10-03-2021
	Cutting food waste while improving food security and environment in Ukraine. The current methods of waste management in Ukraine – mere collection of mixed waste and landfill disposal - have a detrimental impact on the environment. Therefore, the issue requires immediate attention. In 2014–2017, Ukraine adopted the National Waste Management Strategy until 2030 as part of its commitment under the Association Agreement with the EU. More... 09-03-2021
	Food systems account for more than one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. New data tool offers detailed insights covering role of land use, agriculture, refrigeration, packaging and more, providing critical guidance for holistic mitigation efforts. The world's food systems are responsible for more than one-third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, according to a pioneering new study published in Nature Food. More... 09-03-2021
	Empowering women and girls is crucial to ensure sustainable food security in the aftermath of COVID-19, say UN food agency heads ahead of International Women's Day. Hunger and famine will persist and there will be unequal recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic unless more women in rural and urban areas hold leadership positions with increased decision-making power, say the heads of the three United Nations' food agencies ahead of their joint International Women's Day event on 8 March. More... 06-03-2021
	On the frontier of science for food and agriculture. Joint FAO/IAEA Nuclear Techniques Centre works on a vast spectrum of areas that underpin food security and safety. The caesium-137 (Cs-137) radionuclides released into the atmosphere and spread around the world from nuclear tests conducted more than half a century ago are deposited on the earth's surface through rain, offering the opportunity to precisely assess the rate of soil erosion, even in remote areas where no past data is available. More... 05-03-2021
	Celebrating women’s achievements. On 8 March 2021, the United Nations and the world celebrate International Women’s Day, reflecting on progress made towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. Women in rural areas in Europe and Central Asia are still not equally represented in rural institutions and manage only 6.5 percent to 31 percent of agricultural holdings. More... 05-03-2021
	New collaboration addresses food waste in the food and hospitality sector in Turkey. Reducing food waste is one of the major global challenges of our time. In Turkey alone, 18 million tonnes of food is thrown out every year, a figure that rises to around 88 million tonnes for EU countries. When food is discarded in this manner the valuable resources used in its production are also lost, even before the high cost of food disposal is taken into account. More... 04-03-2021
	FAO Food Price Index rises for ninth consecutive month in February. Global food commodity prices rose for the ninth consecutive month in February, with quotations for sugar and vegetable oils increasing the most, the FAO reports. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 116.0 points in February, 2.4 percent higher than the previous month. More... 04-03-2021
	UN World Wildlife Day highlights role of indigenous and local communities’ livelihoods and knowledge in the conservation of forest species and ecosystems. For the first-ever virtual celebration of the United Nations World Wildlife Day, representatives of UN Member States, UN System organizations, international and non-governmental organizations, Indigenous Peoples and Local communities, and youth took part in an online event marking the Day. More... 03-03-2021
	Urgent aid needed to fight humanitarian crisis in Yemen, says FAO Director-General. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has appealed for urgent aid to fight the humanitarian crisis in Yemen as UN agencies work to prevent a large-scale famine in the country. More... 01-03-2021
	FAO’s Investment Centre doubles down on efforts to create more robust and sustainable agri-food systems. Q&A with FAO Investment Centre Director. Mohamed Manssouri, Director of FAO's Investment Centre discusses the Centre's work and expansion plans. More... 26-02-2021
	Building momentum on the ethical approach towards Artificial Intelligence endorsed by Pope Francis. The Pontifical Academy for Life, together with the first co-signatories of the Rome Call for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics: Microsoft, IBM, and the FAO marked the first anniversary of the document which has been endorsed by Pope Francis and seeks a commitment towards developing AI technologies in ways that are transparent, inclusive, socially beneficial and accountable. More... 26-02-2021
	Transforming agri-food systems is powerful lever for achieving global goals. A holistic redesign of the world's agri-food systems can make outsized contributions to achieving global pledges such as ending hunger by 2030, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in a keynote lecture at Italy's historic Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. More... 25-02-2021
	FAO outlines strategy for healthy and productive livestock in Europe and Central Asia. With the main aim to improve the animal health and production practices of smallholders and reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance, FAO published an animal health and production strategy for Europe and Central Asia. Available in English and Russian, A wake-up call for impact urges both the private and public sectors to take the initiative on evidence-based, multidisciplinary, and coordinated actions. More... 25-02-2021
	FAO supports China-Latin America and the Caribbean partnership to boost agri-food systems. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today addressed the 2nd China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum on Agriculture, where he stressed the importance of strong partnerships to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and announced a project to boost the use of digital technologies in the region. More... 25-02-2021
	FAO and IAEA deepen and broaden their collaboration. The Director-Generals of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, signed an updated collaboration arrangement, aimed at further strengthening and developing their joint activities. More... 24-02-2021
	Multi-country simulation to test animal disease preparedness in the Balkans. FAO and the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD) are co-leading a two-day simulation exercise in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia on foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever, two major transboundary animal diseases threatening the Balkans. More... 23-02-2021
	FAO pledges to scale up direct use of digital financial transfers. In another step towards creating a "digital FAO", the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is committing to increasing by 50 percent its delivery of digital financial transfers and vouchers to beneficiaries. As part of joining the Better Than Cash Alliance, FAO is also pledging to expand its use of digital payments in at least ten more of its Decentralized Offices. More... 22-02-2021
	FAO honoured to take the rotating chairmanship of the Tripartite. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today took over the rotating chairmanship of the Tripartite Secretariat from the World Organisation for Animal Health's (OIE) Director-General, Monique Eloit. More... 19-02-2021
	Enhanced livelihoods of rural Tajik families help overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Agriculture has a central place in the culture of mountainous Tajikistan. In fact, more than 60 percent of Tajik people work in agriculture, cultivating the country’s arable land that extends over 850 thousand hectares. More... 19-02-2021
	Somalia: Urgent scaling up of emergency response needed, as 2.65 million people are projected to be in acute hunger. Over 2.6 million people in Somalia are expected to be in extreme food insecurity according to the latest joint technical assessment released by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). The report cites poor rainfall, flooding and desert locusts among the main contributing factors and warns that the situation could worsen through mid-2021 in the absence of large-scale and sustained humanitarian assistance. More... 17-02-2021
	FAO and Central Asia work towards climate-friendly and resilient livestock development. The project, entitled "Identifying low carbon and climate resilient pathways for the ruminant sector in the selected countries of Central Asia," was led by a multidisciplinary team of technical experts Yvette Zenina, FAO natural resources officer, and Yuriy Nesterov, FAO sustainable livestock specialist, in close cooperation with the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock. More... 16-02-2021
	Project promotes agritourism and digitalization for Albanian smallholder farms. FAO helped to enhance diversification and competitiveness of Albanian smallholders through the promotion of agritourism and digitalization in the agrifood sector. The one-year project, which ended recently, targeted three pilot areas in the country. More... 12-02-2021
	Pulses are key to food security, healthy diets and sustainable agri-food systems, says FAO. Speaking at the opening of FAO's virtual event to mark World Pulses Day, Qu highlighted pulses' incredible potential for making FAO's aspirations of Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and a Better Life a reality, and, thus, contributing towards transforming agri-food systems - making them more inclusive, resilient and sustainable. More... 12-02-2021
	Framework agreement between Ireland and FAO places sustainable food systems at the centre of collaborative agenda. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Republic of Ireland signed a new Framework Agreement today, consolidating a longstanding collaboration between the two parties in the area of development cooperation. The new agreement will cover a period from 2021 to 2024 and is designed to contribute to the parties' common humanitarian and development priorities. More... 11-02-2021
	CFS Members endorse new Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition. Members of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) endorsed the first-ever Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition aiming to support countries and others in their efforts to eradicate all forms of hunger and malnutrition by utilizing a comprehensive food systems approach. The endorsement took place during the CFS 47th Session (8-11 February 2021). More... 10-02-2021
	Rural people in Uzbekistan received 34 greenhouses from FAO. TFAO donated altogether 34 greenhouses to rural families living in Uzbekistan’s southeastern regions (Bukhara and Kamashi districts) as part of the socio-economic response to the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The greenhouses will improve the nutrition and livelihood of vulnerable families. More... 09-02-2021
	FAO welcomes ˆ40 million from Germany to help farmers withstand shocks like COVID-19 and extreme climate events. FAO welcomed a ˆ40 million contribution from Germany to help farmers and fishers withstand threats like COVID-19 and extreme climate events. The funding from Germany's KfW development bank will support FAO's efforts to build the resilience of resource-poor producers, pastoralists and fishers in three of the world's most food insecure countries - the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Yemen, work undertaken in partnership with other UN agencies. More... 08-02-2021
	FAO Members endorse Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. The 34th session of FAO's Committee on Fisheries (COFI34) ended its week-long meeting on Friday with its Members endorsing the first-ever Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, urging stronger action to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and stressing the importance of recovering from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 08-02-2021
	Committee on World Food Security kicks off calling for comprehensive transformation of agri-food systems. The 47th Session of the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has kicked off today with a call to step up joint action towards a comprehensive transformation of global agri-food systems, in order to make them more inclusive, resilient and sustainable, as well as to tap their potential to contribute to the fight against poverty, hunger , all forms of malnutrition, and inequality. More... 08-02-2021
	Food prices rise sharply in January. Global food prices rose in January for the eighth consecutive month, led by cereals, vegetable oils and sugar, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO's Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities and was released today, averaged 113.3 points in January, marking a 4.3 percent increase from December 2020 and reaching its highest level since July 2014. More... 04-02-2021
	New project to boost sustainable wildlife management and food security in southern Africa. FAO and the French Development Agency (AFD) today launched a new 3.5 million Euro project to improve sustainable wildlife management and food security in the world's largest terrestrial transfrontier conservation area. Southern Africa's Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area each year experiences large scale migrations of megafauna, in particular elephants, where 50 percent of the total population of African elephants can be found. More... 03-02-2021
	Global fisheries and aquaculture hard hit by COVID-19 pandemic, says FAO report. Global fisheries and aquaculture have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and could face further disruption in 2021 as lockdowns affect supply and demand across the sector, according to a report by FAO. The report, The impact of COVID-19 on fisheries and aquaculture food systems, was featured during the 34th session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) hosted by FAO. More... 02-02-2021
	Fisheries and aquaculture are a critical part of global agri-food systems transformation, says FAO Director-General. The Director-General addressed the opening of the 34th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), which is the only global inter-governmental forum where FAO Members meet to review and consider the issues and challenges related to fisheries and aquaculture. It is being held virtually for the first time. More... 01-02-2021
	Action plan combats dieback of pine forests in Belarus and Ukraine. Belarus and Ukraine have high forest covers that provide a fundamental contribution to the wellbeing of rural populations and the national economy. To protect these forests for future generations, a new FAO project will help increase the resilience of forest ecosystems against unfavourable biotic and abiotic factors, droughts, and combat dieback of pine forests. More... 27-01-2021
	Transforming agri-food systems will shape the future, FAO chief told World Economic Forum. Holistic changes are needed to address issues such as climate change, agricultural production, demographics, consumer demands, biodiversity, nutrition, pests and food technology, among others, Qu said at a high-profile panel at the World Economic Forum's annual Davos" get-together, held virtually this year. More... 27-01-2021
	Project strengthens food safety systems in five countries of Europe and Central Asia. Unsafe food is a major threat to human health and economies globally. A new project has been kicked off to strengthen official food safety control and risk communication systems in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, and Turkey. More... 26-01-2021
	Prominent global leaders in science, industry and government meet to step up fight against antimicrobial resistance. The One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), co-chaired by Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, held its first meeting, bringing together as members about 20 government ministers, prominent scientists, and leaders of foundations and corporations from around the world. The full list of members of the One Health Global Leaders Group is available at https://www.who.int/groups/one-health-global-leaders-group-on-antimicrobial-resistance. More... 26-01-2021
	Innovation key to feed the world in times of pandemics and climate change. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu addressed the Agriculture Ministers' Conference in Berlin underscoring the importance, in the wake of COVID-19, of continued global cooperation to find new ways to strengthen the sustainability of agri-food systems, and outlined FAO and its partners' role in this. Qu reinforced FAO's readiness to support the world in a "new path", particularly through FAO's COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme, Hand-in-Hand Initiative and its Geospatial Platform, and the One Health approach. More... 22-01-2021
	Promoting food systems transformation in the Mediterranean towards 2030. "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda through food systems transformation in the Mediterranean region. More... 22-01-2021
	FAO pledges intensified action to end child labour in agriculture. "This year, we will step-up our efforts to strengthen the capacities of a wide range of agricultural actors to include child labour prevention and youth employment in their work,'' the Director-General stressed during the virtual event launch of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour 2021 organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). More... 21-01-2021
	FAO Director-General highlights how to build an advanced society with green, innovative, competitive and sustainable development. QU Dongyu reflects on Austria’s model of rural development as a landlocked country at the Winter Conference 2021. Qu alluded to the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative as an ideal framework for such collaboration, in particular for the benefit of Land-Locked Developing Countries and mountainous regions. More... 21-01-2021
	UN agencies warn that COVID-19 and worsening inequalities will fuel malnutrition for billions in Asia and the Pacific. The report ‘Asia and the Pacific Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2020: Maternal and Child Diets at the Heart of Improving Nutrition' is jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization. More... 20-01-2021
	Young Macedonian artist wins World Food Day poster contest honoring food heroes. World Food Day 2020 was a global call to thank food heroes – farmers and workers throughout the food supply chain – who, no matter the circumstances, provide food to our communities and beyond. This inspired Pavel Milanovski, a 14-year-old student from North Macedonia, to turn his artistic talent and imagination into a winning poster honoring farmers as #FoodHeroes. More... 19-01-2021
	Innovation to counter food supply-chain disruptions and spur recovery. Innovative solutions in agri-food systems helped households and countries contain disruptions in food supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more will be required to "build back better and build back greener", FAO's Director-General QU Dongyu said today. More... 19-01-2021
	East Africa's locust "air force" could be grounded, as another wave of the scourge takes flight. A locust fighting force assembled by countries in East Africa to combat an invasion of the crop-devouring pest is at risk of seeing its activities grind to a halt as funding to sustain its operations dries up, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned today. More... 19-01-2021
	One Planet – FAO’s work on biodiversity, One Health and climate. Speaking at the One Planet Summit, held on 11 January 2021, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, highlighted FAO's track records leading the work on biodiversity across agriculture and food sectors, recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability as a key determinant of a long term "One Health for All." More... 13-01-2021
	Eradication of Peste des petits ruminants disease in sight. Globally, the number of outbreaks of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), also known as sheep and goat plague, fell by two-thirds in recent years, showing the commitment of the international community to combatting this highly contagious animal disease and raising hopes for meeting the goal of global eradication by 2030. More... 12-01-2021
	FAO-Hungarian Government Scholarship Programme 2021-22. The following Master of Science degree courses are being offered in English for the 2021-22 academic year: Agricultural water management engineering (Szent Istvan University); Plant protection (Szent Istvan University); Crop production (Szent Istvan University). More... 12-01-2021
	Small towns are bigger than we think. Fewer than one percent of the global population live in truly remote hinterlands, sharpening the need for better understanding of how urban forms impact food systems as well as social and economic development, according to ground-breaking new research by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the University of Twente. More... 12-01-2021
	FAO Director-General stresses crucial role of biodiversity in combating zoonotic diseases. Emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental, animal and human health, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu reiterated FAO's commitment to continue supporting the mainstreaming of biodiversity across agriculture and food sectors also by the Hand in Hand Initiative. He alluded to the strong support of FAO to the establishment of the One Health High Expert Council, stressing the need to address inequalities in health, as "there can be no health security if vulnerable in the rural area are left behind". More... 12-01-2021
	FAO Director-General calls for urgent scale-up of Africa’s Great Green Wall. The Director-General spoke in a virtual address to the Great Green Wall investment forum held at the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity 2021 hosted by French President, Emmanuel Macron. The Prince of Wales and the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, also addressed the summit. More... 11-01-2021
	World food prices rise for seventh month in a row in December. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 107.5 points in December, 2.2 percent higher than in November. Over the whole of 2020, the benchmark index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 97.9 points, a three-year high and a 3.1 percent increase from 2019 although still more than 25 percent below its historical 2011 peak. More... 07-01-2021
	Stronger linkages of cities and rural areas back efficient food systems in Tajikistan. FAO helped revitalize the urban-rural connection in Tajikistan, with a view to develop more efficient food systems that benefits residents of both areas. “With growing urbanization the nexus between rural and urban areas is becoming stronger and more vital,” said Robert van Otterdijk, FAO’s agro-industry officer. “The perception of rural development as something completely distinct from urban development became outdated.” More... 21-12-2020
	FAO moves to scale up response to Fall Armyworm as pest continues to spread. FAO is increasing efforts aimed at bolstering the global response to Fall Armyworm (FAW), considered one of the top 10 devastating plant pests affecting food and agriculture. FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, noted today that great strides had been made by the Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control (GA), a coordination mechanism established by him a year ago, but emphasized that many challenges remain to be tackled in the sustainable management of this pest. More... 21-12-2020
	Geographical indication products can help Albania align with EU standards. In Albania, FAO has used part of its efficiency savings, called the Multidisciplinary Fund, to scale up the promotion of geographical indication products in light of the country’s European Union approximation process. Traditional and geographical indication products also have a high potential to advance rural development and rural livelihoods. More... 18-12-2020
	Kyrgyz farmers learn managing multiple risks in agriculture and the food system. During the COVID-19 crises, 1 140 families have been supported by FAO with vegetable seeds and professional advice. The project runs through December 2020. It is financed from FAO’s Multidisciplinary Fund, which is part of the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget for 2018–19. More... 17-12-2020
	FAO Annual Employee Recognition Awards go to 200 individuals and ten teams across the UN agency. Two hundred individuals and ten teams from across all streams and offices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were recognized today for "remarkable performance under extraordinary circumstances in an exceptional year" at the FAO Employee Recognition Awards event - held this year online. More... 17-12-2020
	Desert Locust upsurge continues to threaten food security in Horn of Africa and Yemen despite intense efforts. A new generation of Desert Locust swarms is threatening agricultural and pastoral livelihoods and the food security of millions of people in the Horn of Africa and Yemen despite intense efforts to control the pest throughout 2020. With international support and an unprecedented large-scale response campaign coordinated by FAO, more than 1.3 million hectares of locust infestations have been treated in ten countries since January. More... 16-12-2020
	Joint FAO-WHO webinar looks at food safety control and management in 2020. Although the work to assess the impacts of COVID-19 to determine informed actions continues, it was also time to take stock on food safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. FAO and WHO organized a joint webinar to share information and experiences on how food safety management, control, and attitudes have been affected by the new realities. The recording of the virtual event is now available online. More... 16-12-2020
	FAO launches the UN’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021. QU Dongyu launched the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021 (IYFV) with an appeal to improve healthy and sustainable food production through innovation and technology and to reduce food loss and waste. Proclaimed at the 74th session the UN General Assembly, IYFV 2021 is dedicated to raising awareness about the important role of fruits and vegetables in human nutrition, food security and health. More... 15-12-2020
	Global Environment Facility approves over $78 million to support FAO-led projects. 16 countries will benefit from projects designed to conserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem services, combat land degradation, and preserve natural resources on land and water. The decision came during the 59th GEF Council Meeting and will build upon its June 2020 decision to approve $176 million for FAO-led projects. More... 15-12-2020
	Transforming agri-food systems to feed the world and tackle climate change. Feeding the world's growing population while limiting the impacts of climate change will require urgent and radical transformation of our agri-food systems, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said at a High-Level event commemorating the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. More... 14-12-2020
	Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries are turning the corner on overexploitation. After decades of increasing human pressures on the Mediterranean and Black Sea marine ecosystems and fisheries resources, the latest data suggest that a corner is finally being turned on overexploitation of the region's vital fish stocks. According to a new report on the State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi 2020) while 75 percent of fish stocks remain subject to overfishing, this percentage fell by more than 10 percent between 2014 and 2018. More... 14-12-2020
	Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries are turning the corner on overexploitation. After decades of increasing human pressures on the Mediterranean and Black Sea marine ecosystems and fisheries resources, the latest data suggest that a corner is finally being turned on overexploitation of the region's vital fish stocks. According to a new report on the State of Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries (SoMFi 2020) while 75 percent of fish stocks remain subject to overfishing, this percentage fell by more than 10 percent between 2014 and 2018. More... 14-12-2020
	GEF allotment helps Azerbaijan and Tajikistan protect natural resources and biodiversity. Today, the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) agreed to support FAO projects in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan worth a total of USD 12.5 million. These projects will contribute to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically those on sustainable management of water (SDG 6) and life on land (SDG 15). More... 11-12-2020
	Mountain people among the world’s hungriest as biodiversity loss and climate change take their toll. Mountains host about half of the global biodiversity hotspots and are home to a growing number of the world's hungriest people, according to a new study launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners to mark International Mountain Day 2020. More... 11-12-2020
	Small Island Developing State leaders join FAO Director-General to explore pathways to resilience. The world's Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face special food-security strains due to climate change, rising oceans, and high reliance on food imports and tourism, which have declined sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of island states said at a dialogue organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO Director-General QU Dongyu noted that the SIDS faced unique vulnerabilities and challenges, which have been further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 08-12-2020
	New project promotes sustainable food systems in the Black Sea region. A virtual workshop kicked off a new FAO project that establishes a Regional Cooperation Centre for Sustainable Food Systems for Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) countries. As a framework for cooperation among FAO, Turkey, and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, the project will run for three years with a budget of USD 0.5 million, funded by the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme. More... 08-12-2020
	Central Asia embraces digital agriculture. The challenges and opportunities of digital agriculture was the topic of the second meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Central Asia, facilitated by FAO and Kazakhstan. The Central Asian countries expressed interest in developing and implementing comprehensive digital agricultural strategies to spur the growth of digital technologies. More... 08-12-2020
	FAO calls for anticipatory action in support of agriculture to give relief and hope to households in crises. Timely and robust actions can reduce hunger and human suffering as a result of crises, and that's truer than ever in the wake of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu told participants in the High-Level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the second-largest donor to FAO's humanitarian programme. More... 08-12-2020
	Leveraging trade to end hunger. FAO's Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) today organized a special event to discuss the importance of food and agricultural trade for ending global hunger, seeking to identify critical trade-offs associated with different policy measures and possible priorities for action. "We are only nine seasons away from 2030," said the FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, in his keynote remarks, alluding to Sustainable Development Goal 2 (ending hunger by 2030). More... 07-12-2020
	Women sustaining forests in Uzbekistan. FAO currently works with four pilot areas in Uzbekistan to sustain forests in mountain and valley regions and support the most vulnerable. FAO has introduced alternative and diverse income-generating activities for women to increase their family income, which in turn will decrease their dependence on grazing and illegal logging. More... 04-12-2020
	FAO governing Council approves new private sector engagement strategy. The FAO Council today wrapped up its 165th Session. The new Strategy for Private Sector Engagement has been approved. Members also welcomed the Outline of the Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the Outline of the Medium-Term Plan 2022-25. The new Strategic Framework puts at its centre the strategic narrative of Leaving No One Behind through sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life. More... 04-12-2020
	New FAO report highlights the role of soil organisms in ensuring sustainable agri-food systems and mitigating climate change. Soil organisms play a crucial role in boosting food production, enhancing nutritious diets, preserving human health, remediating pollution and combating climate change, but their contribution remains largely underestimated, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said today in its report on "The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity". The report was launched on the occasion of World Soil Day, marked on 5 December. More... 04-12-2020
	International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture can bring huge benefits to the sector, high-level panel says. The equity and efficiency of the world's agri-food systems could benefit enormously from digital technologies, and making sure that happens requires coordinated and inclusive promotion of innovative techniques and a balanced policy framework to mitigate risks and assure that nobody is left behind, a high-level dialogue hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations heard today. More... 03-12-2020
	FAO Food Price Index rises sharply. Global food commodity prices rose sharply in November to their highest level in nearly six years, according to a benchmark United Nations report released today. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 105.0 points during the month, up 3.9 percent from October and 6.5 percent higher than its value a year earlier. The monthly increase was the sharpest since July 2012, putting the index at its highest level since December 2014, the Food and Agriculture Organization said. More... 03-12-2020
	FAO Director-General cites inclusiveness, market access and innovations as key to food security in the COVID-19 context. Ensuring the free movement of food across the world and well-functioning markets has been a central pillar of the global response to COVID-19 pandemic but difficulties with access to food at national level still remain, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today at a high-level panel discussion. Entitled "People first: the human security paradigm in a time of pandemic," the event is part of Mediterranean Dialogues 2020, an initiative of Italy. More... 03-12-2020
	Window to prevent famine in Yemen is narrowing, UN agencies warn. New Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for Yemen indicates that pockets of famine-like conditions (IPC Phase 5) have already returned for the first time in two years, and warns that the number of people experiencing this degree of catastrophic food insecurity could nearly triple from 16,500 currently to 47,000 people between January and June 2021. More... 03-12-2020
	Holistic approaches and reduced chemical use increase soil productivity and crop yields. Recently, over 400 people, including farmers and agricultural extension specialists, benefited from support under the “Lifecycle management of pesticides and disposal of POPs pesticides in Central Asian countries and Turkey” project funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The trainings followed FAO’s “Save and Grow” model of sustainable intensification of crop production that aims for the highest possible productivity within the ecosystem's carrying capacity. More... 03-12-2020
	Turkmenistan joins FAO projects on food loss and waste, fisheries, and wheat rust disease. Turkmenistan officially endorsed a set of projects on reducing food loss and waste, improving fisheries and aquaculture management, and increasing fungal resistance of wheat, funded by the FAO-Turkey Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture. More... 02-12-2020
	Carbon offsetting: A way to reach the Paris Agreement goals. Investing in carbon sequestration, both in vegetation and in soils, is needed and represents an important opportunity to keep the "below 2°C" temperature, a goal defined in the Paris Agreement. To analyze ways of accelerating opportunities of doing that, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, QU Dongyu participated at a webinar on Wednesday entitled "Forests and soils: A new opportunity for the Planet". More... 02-12-2020
	New United Nations report reveals the inequality in the geographical distribution of malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean. A new United Nations report shows the territorial inequality of malnutrition in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Regional Overview of Food and Nutrition Security in Latin America and the Caribbean 2020 analyzes child overweight and stunting in the countries of the region, and identifies which territories are highly lagging, that is, those that exhibit levels significantly higher than the national averages. More... 02-12-2020
	FAO and partners advocate for inclusive food systems to combat rural poverty. The implications of agri-food systems transformation for the livelihoods of rural people in the COVID-19 era was the focus of a high-level event today, co-organized by FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The event "Transforming agri-food systems and fostering inclusive rural development in the context of COVID-19 to end rural poverty" was held virtually, on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly's Special Session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 02-12-2020
	Director-General updates Council on FAO's work and engagement in the past 16 months. In his address to the 165th Session of the FAO Council today, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, made a comprehensive report on the UN agency's work and engagement in the past 16 months, updating the Council on important activities and presenting new proposals and initiatives, such as the outline of the Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and the FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2021-2025. More... 30-11-2020
	FAO appoints Monty Don and Diarmuid Gavin as International Year of Plant Health advocates. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has appointed the popular British gardening expert, writer and broadcaster, Monty Don, as a Goodwill Ambassador to promote the International Year of Plant Health. In addition, FAO has appointed the Irish garden designer, writer, and broadcaster, Diarmuid Gavin, as an official Champion of the cause. More... 30-11-2020
	In Papua New Guinea, partnerships with local private sector promote more inclusive and sustainable cocoa production. As part of efforts to support smallholder farmers and create more inclusive agri-food value chains in Papua New Guinea, FAO implementing the European Union co-funded STREIT programme, has engaged the local private sector, partnering with Paradise Foods Ltd., the country's oldest national food manufacturing company. More... 26-11-2020
	How to overcome water challenges in agriculture. More than three billion people live in agricultural areas with high to very high levels of water shortages and scarcity, and almost half of them face severe constraints. Furthermore, available freshwater resources per person have declined by more than 20 percent over the past two decades globally, underscoring the importance of producing more with less, especially in the agriculture sector, the world's largest user of water. More... 26-11-2020
	Fresh kick-off for agri-food systems transformation. Global leaders called today for an urgent action to transform agri-food systems to make them more sustainable and resilient in the face of COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, and ensure that everyone has access to affordable, healthy and nutritious food. The discussion took place at a Special Seminar on Food and Nutrition, organized by FAO, entitled Urgent call for agri-food systems transformation to achieve healthy diets for all. More... 25-11-2020
	Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey establish joint Food Loss and Waste Strategy Committee. FAO and the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry convened a meeting of high-level officials from Central Asia to establish a joint Food Loss and Waste Strategy Committee mandated to oversee the development and implementation of the regional food loss and waste reduction programme. More... 25-11-2020
	“There is always a way”. Samira lives in a very remote village in Kyrgyzstan with her husband and four children. They grow vegetables in a small greenhouse to feed the family. In addition, Samira works at the bakery with 10 other women – they bake bread for the local school. This might sound like “a typical life” in a rural setting, but their life was not like this before. More... 25-11-2020
	North Macedonia’s achievements in land consolidation receives EU recognition. The 2020 European Commission Report on North Macedonia has recognized the advanced status of land consolidation in the country. This achievement is a result of the joint efforts of FAO, the European Union (EU), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. More... 24-11-2020
	Ensuring quality seeds when the need is greatest. At an FAO webinar, seed experts discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on seed systems – the primary basis for human sustenance – and potential action to mitigate these. The recording of the virtual event is available online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amp7SKlRAHM). More... 19-11-2020
	New partnership to boost bamboo and rattan’s contribution to sustainable development. A new five-year partnership signed today between the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that aims to scale up the benefits and opportunities that these fast growing tropical plants provide, including reducing rural poverty, increasing carbon sequestration, promoting biodiversity and land restoration, and the greening of the construction industry worldwide. More... 18-11-2020
	Drug-resistant infections threaten to become next pandemic. As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) drastically rises threatening to turn into the next pandemic with serious implications for global health, agri-food systems and economies, FAO is calling on actors across all sectors, from farmers to cooks, producers to consumers, to accelerate efforts to prevent the spread of drug-resistant microbes. This World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November), the Organization highlights that everyone has a role to play to combat AMR. More... 18-11-2020
	FAO promotes prudent use of antimicrobials. For World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020 (WAAW), FAO is organizing a series of activities to call attention to this important topic to different audiences of Europe and Central Asia. At the regional level, FAO will organize on 23 November a high-level webinar jointly with FAO’s tripartite partners, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). More... 17-11-2020
	Land consolidation is the missing link for farmers in North Macedonia. Farmer Ljupco Angelovski from North Macedonia has been able to modernise his farm after taking part in an EU-funded FAO project supporting land consolidation. Most farms in North Macedonia have an average size of less than two hectares and are often fragmented into many smaller, irregularly shaped parcels that can be challenging to farm. Now that their smaller land parcels have been consolidated into three manageable ones, Ljupco and his wife Kathy are upgrading to modern machinery to increase their farm productivity. More... 16-11-2020
	World Food Day 2020 in Europe and Central Asia. This year’s World Food Day coincided with the 75th anniversary of the founding of FAO. The theme for this combined celebration was “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together,” emphasizing the importance of a better recovery and paying homage to Food Heroes – all those people who produce, plant, harvest, catch, and transport our food. Every year countries across Europe and Central Asia organize special events to help spread the message of World Food Day. More... 16-11-2020
	Global Climate Fund approves $160 million to support FAO-led projects. The Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved three new FAO-designed projects in Argentina, Guatemala and Sudan for a total amount of $158.6 million aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening resilience to climate change, and combating deforestation. Thanks to the new funds, smallholder farmers in Guatemala will learn how to use improved climate information systems, improved crop varieties, as well as efficient soil and water management techniques. More... 13-11-2020
	United in the One Health approach to protect antimicrobials. As Tripartite partners, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Sub-Regional Representation for Central Asia, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, are united in support of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) 2020. More... 13-11-2020
	Improving diversity and public perception of the forest sector workforce for green recovery. Altogether almost 4.3 million people work across the forest sectors of North America, Europe, and Central Asia according to a new study published by FAO and UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. New job profiles have also emerged, related to sustainability targets, forest education, and human recreation. More... 12-11-2020
	FAO's Food Outlook: Developing countries buoy global food trade. Global trade in food products has proven remarkably resilient during the pandemic, with developing countries even managing to increase export revenues, according to a new report published today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Data available through June "suggest strong, albeit not complete, resilience of the global food markets to COVID-19 shocks", the semi-annual Food Outlook says in a special feature on recent trends in food imports bills and export earnings. More... 12-11-2020
	FAO calls for making agri-food systems and green spaces part of urban plans. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today called on local governments to make agri-food systems and green spaces part of their plans, policies and actions to make cities more sustainable and inclusive, as well as to create jobs and promote youth engagement, built on a "green industry, a green environment, green products and a green way of lifestyle," he said. More... 12-11-2020
	Global Food Security Cluster turns 10: ending hunger is everyone’s job. The Global Food Security Cluster (gFSC), which coordinates life-saving food and livelihoods assistance to people hit by crises, turns 10 this year and marked the anniversary at its bi-annual meeting of global partners held virtually today, with the participation of the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, the WFP Deputy-Executive Director Amir Abdulla, and gFSC partners from NGOs and academia. More... 11-11-2020
	FAO webinar offers solutions for reducing food waste and improving food security amidst the pandemic. An FAO webinar, focusing on Europe and Central Asia, was held to exchange and promote new practices for facilitating vulnerable groups’ access to food and tackling food waste through the development and adoption of innovative solutions. A recording of the virtual event, “Food waste prevention and reduction in times of crisis,” is available online (http://www.fao.org/europe/events/detail-events/en/c/1319482/). More... 11-11-2020
	Livelihoods of Albanian farmers supported through income diversification, tourism, and digitalization. Two new FAO projects support the Albanian agriculture sector by diversifying incomes (on- and off-farm) and building capacities for smallholder farmers, rural women, youth, extension services, and farmers’ associations. The projects also aim at enhancing the abilities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to create a conducive policy framework for smallholders. More... 10-11-2020
	UN food agencies warn of rising levels of acute hunger with potential risk of famine in four hotspots. The Early Warning Analysis of Acute Food Insecurity Hotspots - issued by the FAO and the WFP - describes a toxic combination of conflict, economic decline, climate extremes and the COVID-19 pandemic that is driving people further into the emergency phase of food insecurity. Parts of the population in the four hotspots of highest concern are already experiencing a critical hunger situation, with the report warning that escalations in conflict as well as a further reduction in humanitarian access could lead to a risk of famine. More... 06-11-2020
	FAO launches Food Coalition to lift food access, sustainable agri-food systems. The need for concerted action to prevent the COVID-19 international health emergency from triggering a catastrophic world food crisis received a welcome new tool today as the FAO formally launched the Food Coalition. A "network of networks", the Food Coalition is a voluntary multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral alliance set up to support innovative initiatives to ensure global food access, increase the resilience of agri-food systems and put them on a more sustainable course. More... 05-11-2020
	Global food prices continue rising in October. Global food prices continued rising for the fifth consecutive month in October, led by cereals, sugar, dairy and vegetable oils, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks international prices of the most traded food commodities, averaged 100.9 points in October 2020, up 3.1 percent from September and 6.0 percent above its value in October 2019. More... 05-11-2020
	Europe and Central Asia call for more sustainable and innovative agriculture. On the final day of the 32nd Session of the Regional Conference for Europe, FAO Members from Europe and Central Asia reinforced their commitment to transform agri-food systems through innovation, digital technologies and sustainable practices, as well as create inclusive growth in rural areas, taking into account the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and agriculture. More... 04-11-2020
	Innovation and digitalization key for agriculture development in Europe and Central Asia. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Houlin Zhao, as well as representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society, young farmers and the private sector from Europe and Central Asia today made a strong case for harnessing agricultural innovation and digital technologies. More... 04-11-2020
	FAO discusses youth and employment for vibrant rural areas in Europe and Central Asia. As pointed out today during an event at the Thirty-second Session of the Regional Conference for Europe titled “Solutions for youth, employment and developing rural areas in relation to the United Nation’s Decade of Family Farming,” family farms face multiple challenges, including limited access to finance and modern technologies, low input quality and limited labour skills. More... 03-11-2020
	Europe and Central Asia discuss solutions to promote sustainable agri-food systems. The 32nd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe started today as FAO Members from Europe and Central Asia will discuss several challenges facing the region on food and agriculture, particularly how to promote sustainable agri-food systems and healthy diets as well as solutions for youth, employment and developing rural areas. More... 02-11-2020
	EBRD, FAO target better biosecurity ahead of busy grain harvests in Ukraine and Serbia. Ukraine and Serbia are big exporters of wheat, maize, and other grains. Disruptions in their grain supply chains can have serious consequences on food security in many parts of the world. FAO and the EBRD developed guidelines on COVID-19 safety adjustment measures and carried out four online technical trainings in Ukraine, reaching more than 500 grain elevators in Ukraine and 70 in Serbia with online and on-the-spot trainings and guidelines for employees and managers. More... 30-10-2020
	Locust control campaign covers millions of hectares, but the voracious pest is still a threat in East Africa. Questions and Answers with Keith Cressman, FAO's Senior Locust Forecasting Officer. Weather and locust biology key factors, says FAO Desert Locust forecaster Keith Cressman. A massive humanitarian disaster has been averted. With international support coordinated by FAO, over 1.1 million hectares of land in 10 countries have been surveyed and treated for locust infestation since January. When you add in locust control efforts outside of East Africa and Yemen, 2.3 million hectares of land have been controlled this year. More... 29-10-2020
	With forests, Kosovo is getting closer to sustainable, inclusive development. A new endeavor to strengthen sustainable and multipurpose forest management in Kosovo has set sail with the ultimate goal of tackling rural poverty and climate change. Since forests have a major role in fighting climate change, they are also an important natural asset in Kosovo. By the end of the four-year programme , forests in Kosovo should be in a better shape, and forest users should equally value its wood and non-wood products, environmental value and ecosystem health. More... 28-10-2020
	African countries commit to accelerate actions towards food security. Ministers at the largest ever FAO Regional Conference for Africa have committed to ‘raise ambitions and accelerate actions' towards achieving food security, at the close of the three day event. Around 900 delegates including 95 ministers and other government officials from 48 countries have met in the context of rising food insecurity and malnutrition exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple overlapping crisis - climate change, transboundary pests and diseases, conflict and economic downturns. More... 28-10-2020
	Empowering women to leave no one behind. The report, Leaving no one behind: A Regional Outlook on Gender and Agrifood Systems (https://doi.org/10.4060/cb1086en), was launched by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Josefa Sacko at the 31st Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa. More... 28-10-2020
	FAO calls for stepping up forest and landscape restoration. Efforts to restore the world's degraded forests and landscapes must be scaled up to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, said FAO in a new publication released today. Land and forest degradation are among the world's most pressing environmental issues. Globally, 25 percent of the total land area has been degraded. To safeguard the future of our planet, major actions are needed to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. More... 28-10-2020
	FAO aims to untap Africa's potential to end hunger and malnutrition. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations QU Dongyu says Africa's potential gives him hope that the battle against poverty and hunger can be won. He made the remarks at today's opening of the Ministerial segment of the 31st Session of the Regional Conference for Africa. More... 27-10-2020
	FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative can help end hunger and poverty in Africa. Agriculture ministers from across Africa, representatives from the African Union, the civil society and the private sector, and other partners, recognized the role FAO's Hand-in-Hand Initiative can play in ending poverty and hunger and meeting the agreed goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Malabo Declaration. More... 27-10-2020
	FAO and OIE kickstart global initiative to stop spread of deadly pig disease. As African swine fever (ASF) marches swiftly across countries affecting food security and livelihoods of some of the world's most vulnerable populations, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are calling on all nations and partners to join forces to keep this deadly pig disease at bay under a new initiative. More... 26-10-2020
	Civil society has its voice heard at FAO forum. FAO provided the framework for its civil society partners to gather virtually and discuss striking questions of food and agriculture in Europe and Central Asia. The Civil Society Consultation precedes the European Regional Conference and its main conclusions will enrich the Conference’s sessions. More... 23-10-2020
	FAO enhances knowledge and skills of Syrians and local farmers through Farmer Field Schools. An inauguration ceremony launched a Farmer Field Schools initiative to support Syrians refugees under Temporary Protection and Turkish citizens in improving their knowledge and skills of modern agricultural technologies and practices. Through Farmer Field Schools, FAO will provide training for selected Syrian refugees and host communities with support from the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. More... 23-10-2020
	FAO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation present action plan for food security, sustainable development. FAO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretariat presented a joint plan of action to the agricultural ministers of the SCO. Developed in consultation with the Member States, it covers areas of common interests, such as achieving food security and sustainable nutrition. The action plan builds on the Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Vladimir Rakhmanin and Vladimir Norov, Secretary-General of the SCO. More... 22-10-2020
	Kazakhstan works toward securing precious pastures for future generations. Held within the framework of the GEF-funded multi-country project "Integrated natural resources management in drought-prone and salt-affected agricultural production landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey" (CACILM2), the webinar has become an international platform for discussing current issues on the conservation and restoration of Central Asia's most valuable natural resource – pastures. More... 22-10-2020
	Canada and the U.S. join FAO in commemorating the UN agency’s 75th anniversary at the opening of the informal North America regional conference. Many of the global challenges that the UN FAO was set up to address are still prevalent today, including chronic undernourishment, high-level participants at FAO's Informal North American regional conference said today. The commemorative event and the virtual conference are hosted by Canada in Quebec City, where FAO, conceived in the United States of America in 1943, was formally founded in 1945. More... 22-10-2020
	Strong support for innovation and digital technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean.The 36th Session of FAO's Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean ended today with FAO Members in the region agreeing to join efforts to fight COVID-19 and promote sustainable agri-food systems through innovation, digital technologies, partnerships and enhanced data, particularly to strengthen food value chains and support smallholders farmers and the most vulnerable communities. More... 21-10-2020
	Director-General engages with Italian parliamentarians on partnership potential. Italy's agri-food system offers lessons on the transformations the world needs, and the nation is playing a critical role by promoting a multilateral food coalition that is closely aligned to FAO's own rural development framework as articulated in the Hand-in-Hand Initiative and the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today in an address to members of Italy's parliament. More... 21-10-2020
	FAO-WTO facilitates dialogue on agrifood trade policies to prevent a food crisis. Experts and decision-makers shared their opinions and information on such trade policies at a joint FAO-WTO webinar. The virtual event “Agrifood trade policies in Europe and Central Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond” also aimed at supporting an international dialogue by taking stock on and analyzing the different trade measures. More... 21-10-2020
	Free online training increases capacity of veterinary laboratories in the region. The training covered various topics, from introducing strategies on how to reduce the use of antibiotics, to discussing viral, fungal, bacterial, and parasitic diseases in poultry. The lectures were conducted by Marina Eyngor, head of the Rabies Laboratory at Kimron Veterinary Institute in Israel, a renowned specialist in laboratory methods for diagnosing animal infectious diseases, particularly in poultry. To further spread knowledge in the region, all lectures were recorded and made available on FAO’s YouTube channel in Russian language (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reT5PqvLnD0&list=PLzp5NgJ2-dK7-K2JrlTEBhKIU2f0U5ltM). More... 20-10-2020
	FAO’s Statistical Yearbook offers largest trove of data on food and agriculture. The World Food and Agriculture - Statistical Yearbook 2020 offers a synthesis of the major factors at play in the current global food and agriculture landscape, including information ranging from farming trends, inputs use, labor utilization, food security and nutrition to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of agriculture on the environment. More... 20-10-2020
	FAO calls for collaboration and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean. The 36th session of FAO's Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, hosted virtually by the Government of Nicaragua, started today with Members exchanging their experiences, strategies and ideas on the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, while the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stressed the importance of strengthened collaboration and innovation, particularly to support the most vulnerable people highly affected by the pandemic. More... 19-10-2020
	ZEF’s Joachim von Braun gives special lecture for 2020 World Food Day. The professor, Director of the Department of Economic and Technological Change at the Center for Development Research (ZEF), gave a virtual address on the "Role of Policy, Innovation, Bio-economy and SDGs in Agri-Food System Transformation," followed by a question-and-answer session. The event was webcast by FAO. More... 16-10-2020
	FAO honored by minting of special coin in India. India has minted a commemorative coin to celebrate World Food Day and the 75th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the gesture and for the country's support. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with India as we work together toward achieving the SDGs by 2030," the Director-General expressed on Twitter. More... 16-10-2020
	As FAO turns 75, its mission to end hunger and nourish the world is as relevant today as ever. Today, World Food Day marks the 75th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Born on the wake of catastrophe - World War II, three-quarters of a century later, FAO's mission to end hunger and nourish the world has been made more relevant because of another global scourge - the COVID-19 pandemic, said QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General. Hence, also, this year's World Food Day's theme: grow, nourish, and sustain. Together. More... 16-10-2020
	Rome’s Colosseum illuminated to mark FAO’s 75th anniversary and World Food Day. The Director-General QU Dongyu today was joined by Italian authorities for the presentation of two video mapping shows in Rome (one at FAO's headquarters and the other at the Colosseum) to celebrate FAO's 75th anniversary on World Food Day. In a stirring tribute to the UN agency and its work, the video mapping show celebrated food heroes and encouraged global solidarity efforts for the transformation of food systems. Until Sunday October 18, the show will continue to be screened on the facade of FAO's global headquarters in Viale Aventino. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-e949jmFqw More... 16-10-2020
	European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and FAO approve COVID-19 technical support package. The package will also help to strengthen the longer-term resilience of the food system, including production, processing and transport. It includes immediate technical and policy assistance as well as strategic inputs to support the transformation of food systems after the crisis. The initiative will look at investment options for urban food, low or zero carbon value chains and more efficient distribution systems, including e-marketing. More... 16-10-2020
	Jubilee World Food Day convoy carries 90 tonnes of donated food. World Food Day has once again brought more than 20 trucks full of donated food into the heart of Budapest. As has been happening every year since 2006, the convoy, organized by FAO and the Hungarian Food Bank Association, made a short stop at Heroes’ Square before departing for the association’s warehouse to empty 90 tonnes of food. More... 16-10-2020
	FAO event set the course for a long and nourishing life. This year tested humankind on how we score in resilience. This is also at the heart of FAO, aiding the Organization, along with two additional fundamental principles, sustainability and innovation, during an eventful 75 years of existence. The World Food Day Talks event provided an opportunity for inspiration on how these three principles can be fruitful to everyone, even in times of crises. More... 15-10-2020
	We stand with rural women for sustainable agriculture and development. International Day of Rural Women 2020. On the International Day of Rural Women, FAO urges the recognition of women’s significant role in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security, and eradicating rural poverty. In Europe and Central Asia, the status of rural women is the most advanced globally; however, gender-based discrimination persists in the region. More... 15-10-2020
	Nobel laureate outlines how new technologies measurably boost farmers. Mobile technologies and digital agriculture hold great promise for the world's farmers, making it all the more important to foster appropriate institutions able to generate innovation whose benefits reach smallholders and disadvantaged groups, Nobel Prize-winning economist Michael Kremer said today in a special lecture hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. More... 15-10-2020
	FAO stresses the importance of innovative approaches during meeting of the Committee on World Food Security. Promoting innovation and applying digital technologies in agri-food systems, as well as reducing food loss and waste, are vital to step up the fight against hunger and poverty. This was FAO's main message at the opening of the High-Level Special Event on Strengthening Global Governance of Food Security and Nutrition organised by the Committee on Food Security (CFS), taking place from 13 to 15 October. More... 13-10-2020
	Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health and our food systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year. More... 13-10-2020
	FAO, WMO and partners call for early warning and early action to avoid disasters. The Director-General of FAO, QU Dongyu, participated in the launch of the 2020 State of Climate Services Report at a virtual high-level event hosted by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which produced the report with inputs from FAO and 15 other international agencies and financial institutions through the Global Framework for Climate Services. The report was released on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. More... 13-10-2020
	Celebrating food and nutrition on World Food Day. FAO was established on 16 October 1945. To commemorate this day, year by year, World Food Day reminds us about the pressing issues of hunger, malnutrition, and obesity. In 2020, the COVID-19 global health crisis has been a time to reflect on things we truly cherish and our most basic needs. Eating healthy and diverse and maintaining our social connections has become even more of an imperative. More... 12-10-2020
	FAO, IFAD and WFP pledge to strengthen collaboration against hunger. The Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert Houngbo, and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, today pledged to step up their joint efforts to end global hunger, particularly amid the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 12-10-2020
	Donors must double investments to stamp out hunger. If donors double their investments and spend the money wisely, they could help end hunger by 2030, a coalition of research groups said in a call-to-action ahead of World Food Day. Donors must spend an additional US$14 billion on average each year between now and 2030, roughly double what they currently spend on aid for food security and nutrition, according to new research from the Center for Development Research (ZEF), Cornell University, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). More... 12-10-2020
	Statement by QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. "It is with great delight and pride that I offer my congratulations to all my colleagues at the World Food Programme for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. It is a much deserved recognition of the untiring efforts of generations of humanitarian workers worldwide to defeat hunger. It also turns the eyes of the international community towards the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of food insecurity." More... 09-10-2020
	Prices of several staples up to multi-month highs. The benchmark price index for food commodities rose in September, led by vegetable oils and cereals, according to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 97.9 points during the month, up 2.1 percent from August and 5.0 percent higher than its value in September 2019. The FAO Food Price Index, released monthly, tracks the international prices of the most commonly-traded food commodities. More... 08-10-2020
	FAO welcomes $3 million contribution from Germany and Sweden to help farmers fight the impact of climate change. The countries' contribution was finalized through the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF) of the NDC Partnership , a global coalition of countries and institutions committed to supporting climate action and sustainable development. FAO Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo, thanked Germany and Sweden for their support saying it would help FAO directly support those countries hardest hit by climate change. More... 08-10-2020
	FAO: With joint actions, we can recover from the current crisis. A wide range of actors were brought together by FAO’s virtual regional dialogue on scaling up the response of food and agriculture sectors to the COVID-19 crisis with the ultimate goal of protecting livelihoods and transforming food systems. As a baseline, the UN Agency presented its Regional Response Plan providing evidence-based solutions through immediate and medium-term actions, since the virus, as well as its consequences, have not yet fully hit food systems in Europe and Central Asia. More... 07-10-2020
	FAO workshop leads to understanding and designing better agricultural policies in post-Soviet countries. An FAO workshop will bring a closer understanding of agricultural policy distortions in eight post-Soviet countries. The event will cover a niche by providing a platform to present and discuss preliminary findings of an upcoming study on quantitative agricultural policy monitoring. Once published, this information can guide decision-makers, trade and agricultural policy experts, and academia in the long run. More... 07-10-2020
	FAO Director-General calls for transformational change in the way we manage our forests and food systems that depend on them. Transformational change is needed in the way we manage our forests and their biodiversity, produce and consume our foods and interact with nature, if we want to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. This was the key message of a speech delivered today by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu at the 25th session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO). More... 05-10-2020
	FAO and CropLife International strengthen commitment to promote agri-food systems transformation. During a virtual meeting, FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, and Giulia Di Tommaso, the President and Chief Executive Officer of CropLife International, signed a Letter of Intent to explore new partnerships between the UN Agency and the private sector. It was the first time that a FAO Director-General delivered a keynote speech to the Board of Directors of CropLife International. In his opening remarks, Qu stressed the importance of having the private sector onboard in the adoption of concrete steps towards agri-food systems transformation and highlighted the potential of digital technologies in this regard. More... 02-10-2020
	Coordination remains crucial for African swine fever preparedness in the Balkans. Despite the limitations in travel and face-to-face meeting due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, FAO continues to bring people together, online, to discuss African swine fever (ASF) – a lethal, viral, transboundary animal disease of domestic pigs and wild boar, against which there is no vaccine. The focus of the meeting will be on wild boar, hunting, and hunting biosecurity. More... 01-10-2020
	FAO helps address the rural dimension of migration. Border entry restrictions and lockdown measures, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, have affected seasonal and circular migration, as well as food security in many countries across Europe and Central Asia. To this end, FAO has organized a webinar dedicated to practical solutions for mitigating COVID-19 impacts and associated challenges, and to providing a platform for sharing information on seasonal and circular migration. The full webinar, part of a series of regional COVID-19 webinars, is available on YouTube. More... 30-09-2020
	Biodiversity is a bulwark for people, societies, economies and food security. FAO Director-General calls for “reverence of nature” and accelerated action on transforming food systems at UN Summit on Biodiversity. Biodiversity underpins most of the world's economic activities, particularly in the agri-food sector, so the pace of its erosion must be contrasted with holistic, coherent and collective efforts, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today. "Its loss undermines global efforts to tackle poverty and hunger - no biodiversity, no food diversity," he said in a video address to the UN Summit on Biodiversity. More... 30-09-2020
	Food loss and waste must be reduced for greater food security and environmental sustainability. At the global event marking today the first International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and their partners urged everyone to do more to reduce food loss and waste or risk an even greater drop in food security and natural resources. Some 690 million people today are hungry and three billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Hunger has been on the rise for the past five years, and the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the food and nutrition security of up to an additional 132 million of people. More... 29-09-2020
	FAO teams up with UNWTO to boost sustainable rural tourism to help strengthen rural economies and conserve ecosystems. New partnership aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, drive sustainable development and strengthen livelihoods in rural areas. The new partnership will also contribute to the ecosystems conservation and the development of the FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), as well as support the Coalition of Fragile Ecosystems (COFE) - a global alliance of vulnerable communities living in fragile ecosystems that advocates for the protection of mountain and island ecosystems and the resilience of their populations. More... 29-09-2020
	FAO's Committee on Agriculture focuses on how livestock sector transformation can contribute to achieving the SDGs. The agricultural sectors and livestock farming in particular must shift towards sustainability to enhance their contribution to food security, nutrition and healthy diets and build back better to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today in his opening remarks to the 27th session of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG). More... 28-09-2020
	World Rabies Day 2020. A new United Against Rabies Forum aims to accelerate progress towards the elimination of human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. The disease continues to kill one person every nine minutes - almost half of them children. The Forum, launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) will bring together partners across government institutions, human and animal and environmental health sectors, the private sector, civil society as well as research and academia. It aims to increase understanding of what policy and research work is required and improve coordination (including of resource mobilization) and information sharing between partners. More... 28-09-2020
	Georgia’s agritourism receives further boost from EBRD and FAO. A new agritourism initiative in Georgia by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and FAO is promoting agritourism that highlights authentic Georgian foods while protecting the biodiversity – the endemic plant and animal species – and local know-how that make those foods unique. EBRD and FAO are also connecting small-scale producers of high-quality speciality foods with local hotels, restaurants, and cafes. Sustainable agritourism like this can help keep small businesses and local economies afloat – and make them more resilient to crises. And it can keep Georgia’s food traditions and cultural heritage alive. More... 25-09-2020
	Codex Alimentarius is a driving force for ensuring food safety and trade standards during COVID-19, says FAO Director-General. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, today praised the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission as a driving force for ensuring international food safety and trade standards, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Director-General opened the 43rd session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nations body established by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in international food trade. More... 24-09-2020
	Codex Alimentarius Commission: 24-26 September 2020. The United Nations food standards body Codex Alimentarius Commission is being held online from 24 to 26 September 2020 to adopt food safety and quality standards. Charged with protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade, the Codex Alimentarius is a joint initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). More... 24-09-2020
	Artificial Intelligence best-practices in agriculture can help bridge the digital divide while tackling food insecurity. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), IBM and Microsoft, at an event organized today with the Pontifical Academy for Life, relaunched a commitment towards developing forms of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that are inclusive and promote sustainable ways to achieve food and nutrition security. The aim of the online event: AI, Food for All. Dialogue and Experiences is to reinforce and build upon the Rome Call for AI Ethics endorsed by Pope Francis and co-signed by FAO, IBM and Microsoft at a conference hosted by the Academy in February. More... 24-09-2020
	Countries unite in the fight for better food and nutrition. FAO and its Member Countries ensure the current issues of food security, nutrition, and rural poverty is on the agenda of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, ongoing this week in New York. For Europe and Central Asia, the forthcoming FAO’s Regional Conference will give an additional platform for discussion and search for solutions in early November. More... 23-09-2020
	Global trade in food and agricultural products more than doubles in last two decades. Global agri-food trade has more than doubled since 1995, amounting to $1.5 trillion in 2018, with emerging and developing countries' exports on the rise and accounting for over one-third of the world's total, according to a new report issued today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets, 2020 (SOCO 2020) argues that global trade and well-functioning markets lie at the heart of the development process as they can spur inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, and strengthen resilience to shocks. More... 23-09-2020
	FAO welcomes China's new $50 million donation to support South-South Cooperation. FAO welcomed an announcement today by Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, that his country will support the UN agency's South-South Cooperation (SSC) efforts with an additional $50 million in funding. "We are very grateful for this new $50 million contribution announced by President Xi, as it provides a strong boost to the work of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said. More... 22-09-2020
	Ministers from Near East and North Africa commit to strengthen collaboration on food and agriculture. Ministers from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) approved a historical Ministerial Declaration that sets a foundation for strengthened collaboration across the region to build lasting solutions to the most urgent and pressing food and agricultural challenges, aimed at recovering from COVID-19 impacts and transforming food systems. The Declaration focuses on how governments, the private sector, civil society and communities can work together to end hunger and poverty, ensure healthy diets for all and address the growing challenges of water scarcity, climate change and transboundary pests and diseases. More... 22-09-2020
	High-level roundtable calls for strengthened collaboration in the Near East and North Africa. Ministers and other representatives of FAO Members in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region shared today their concerns and priorities over how to respond to the COVID-19 disruptions and accelerate progress towards sustainable food systems, in a high-level roundtable during the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East. Several participants highlighted that the COVID-19 crisis put additional pressure on regional food systems, which were already facing many challenges, such as rapidly expanding population, the impacts of climate changed, extreme water scarcity and the degradation of natural resources. More... 21-09-2020
	Near East and North Africa countries discuss responses to COVID-19 and how to transform food systems during FAO Regional Conference. FAO Director-General highlights COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme and calls for enabling multi-sectoral policies, innovation, well targeted investments, and vital agricultural activity. The 35th FAO Regional Conference for the Near East started today with the topics of transforming food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responding to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the centre of the discussions. More... 21-09-2020
	FAO supports smart farming in Uzbekistan and Vietnam benefitting youth. A new FAO project, “Smart farming for the next generation” implemented in Uzbekistan and Vietnam, will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of poverty and hunger, and ensuring good health and well-being for everyone. The four-year project has a total budget of USD 3.4 million, provided by South Korea. More... 18-09-2020
	FAO launches Green Cities Initiative to help transform agri-food systems, end hunger and improve nutrition. FAO unveiled today its new Green Cities Initiative and Action Plan to help transform agri-food systems, end hunger and improve nutrition in and around the cities in a post COVID-19 era. The launch took place at a high-level virtual event entitled "Green Cities to Build Back Better for SDGs - A New Powerful Venture" hosted by FAO during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. More... 18-09-2020
	Urgent action needed to avert the risk of famine in Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Yemen, FAO Director-General tells UN Security Council. Conflict and COVID-19 are also worsening food insecurity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan. The Security Council invited FAO Director-General QU Dongyu to provide an update on the food security situation in a number of countries around the world experiencing food insecurity. More... 17-09-2020
	Google and FAO launch new Big Data tool for all. Earth Map empowers FAO’s Hand-in-Hand geospatial platform and allows anyone with basic Internet access to tap critical climate, environmental and agricultural information. Anyone anywhere can access multidimensional maps and statistics showing key climate and environmental trends wherever they are, thanks to a new tool developed by Google and the FAO. Earth Map has also been designed to empower and provide integrative synergies with the federated FAO's Hand-in-Hand geospatial platform, a more comprehensive tool to provide Members, their partners and donors with the means to identify and execute highly-targeted rural development initiatives with multiple goals ranging from climate adaptation and mitigation to socio-economic resilience. More... 16-09-2020
	‘Agriculture has to go on’. A growing number of livestock helped young Azerbaijani farmer secure a better livelihood for his family. Rahib Aghaev, a 32-year old farmer, applied successfully for financial support from the Agriculture Employment Enhancement Project, implemented under the FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Programme. The project has been launched to increase the interest of young farmers in agriculture. More... 16-09-2020
	FAO report on food and agriculture indicators underscores lack of progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. FAO is rolling out innovative data tools to help countries track progress as COVID-19 pandemic poses new monitoring challenges. The unprecedented global health crisis, with associated economic and social impacts, is "making the achievement of these SDG targets even more challenging," according to the report, "Tracking progress on food and agriculture-related SDG indicators 2020". More... 15-09-2020
	COVID-19 impacts driving up acute hunger in countries already in food crisis. Pandemic aggravates pre-existing drivers of acute food insecurity - Democratic Republic of the Congo is now world’s largest food crisis. FAO and partners call for urgent and decisive action. The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) today held a high-level event to present a review of the most recent global data available on how the knock-on effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are driving up acute hunger in vulnerable countries that were already wracked by food crises even before the novel coronavirus arrived on the scene. More... 15-09-2020
	FAO to continue to support G20 to address the pandemic and strengthen agri-food systems. Through the Hand-in-Hand initiative, the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme and other actions, FAO can help ensure well-functioning global food markets, promote responsible investments, and reduce food loss and waste, among other areas. The FAO Director-General QU Dongyu participates in the G20's Agriculture and Water Ministers meeting. More... 12-09-2020
	Georgian vegetable producers prove that kindness is contagious. A kind gesture by entrepreneur and food hero, Keti, helps other women through the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting the idea to grow herbs from an FAO-EBRD-organized study tour, Keti now has extra income to not only get herself through these difficult times but also help other women in her community. The FAO-EBRD initiative helps fruit and vegetable growers in Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to modernize their operations and tap into more lucrative markets. More... 09-09-2020
	Asia-Pacific countries pledged bold and innovative action for food security and livelihoods. Innovation, solidarity, coherence and strong partnership among and within countries of Asia and the Pacific are required for the region to rebound from the damage caused by COVID-19 and the ongoing effects of chronic undernourishment. That was a call made by more than 40 member countries of the FAO concluding a four-day regional conference. About 750 participants, including representatives of the private sector and civil society, pledged to work to transform food systems, making them more sustainable, productive and resilient, and to feed a hungry world in a way that is profitable for farmers yet produces healthy food that is accessible to all. More... 04-09-2020
	Global food prices rise in August. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks the international prices of the most commonly traded food commodities, averaged 96.1 points in August, up 2.0 percent from the previous month and reaching its highest level since February 2020. International quotations for sugar, vegetable oils and coarse grains increased from July, while worldwide cereal harvests remain on course to hit annual record. The FAO Sugar Price Index rose by 6.7 percent from the previous month, reflecting reduced production prospects due to unfavorable weather conditions in the European Union and Thailand, the world's second-largest sugar exporter, as well as strong import demand by China. More... 03-09-2020
	FAO Regional Conference calls for greater action to tackle COVID-19’s impacts across Asia and the Pacific. On the third day of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia-Pacific, the FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, Government Ministers as well as civil society and private sector representatives voiced concern over COVID-19's impacts on the food security and livelihoods of millions of people, and urged for greater action to overcome the food and agriculture challenges facing the region. The FAO Director-General highlighted that small and vulnerable farmers must be at the centre of the response. More... 03-09-2020
	With renowned partners, FAO looks at the future of food systems. In order to define its future medium and long term priorities for Europe and Central Asia, FAO has requested a group of renowned experts to prepare a region-specific report outlining the trends, challenges, and opportunities for food, agriculture and rural development in the region up to 2025 and beyond. The team was led by Eugenia Serova (Higher School of Economics, Moscow), Attila Jambor (Corvinus University, Budapest), and Diana Kopeva (University of National and World Economy, Sofia). A virtual regional workshop was convened on 27–28 August, where the research teams presented the draft report for review. More... 02-09-2020
	Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) make their voices heard at FAO Asia-Pacific Regional Conference. The FAO Regional Conference for Asia-Pacific, which started yesterday virtually hosted by Royal Government of Bhutan, has been an important platform for FAO and the international community to hear and acknowledge the voice of those countries that are usually the most vulnerable to shocks, such as the impacts of COVID-19. More... 02-09-2020
	FAO Regional Conference for Asia-Pacific discusses responses and recovery work on COVID-19 and hunger. As COVID-19 continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across many countries of the Asia-Pacific region, it has led to setbacks in the fight to end hunger and malnutrition. In this context, the 35th Session of the FAO Asia and Pacific Regional Conference (#APRC35), hosted virtually by the Royal Government of Bhutan, started today with representatives from 46 countries examining the present situation of the region's food security, with a particular emphasis on implications linked to the spread of the coronavirus and its impact on food systems region-wide. More... 01-09-2020
	Experts discussed international standards for phytosanitary measures. The 2020 IPPC regional workshop for Europe and Central Asia came to an end. The workshop has been proceeded by the regular annual IPPC consultations of the draft international standards on phytosanitary measures developed under the Convention. During the workshop, plant health experts from 18 countries of Europe and Central Asia have exchanged information, concerns, and ideas to shape the regional dialogue on plant health matters. They reviewed the draft standards, discussed other issues pertaining to international cooperation under the IPPC, and took stock on the delivered activities foreseen by the 2020 International Year on Plant Health work plan. More... 01-09-2020
	FAO and MammalNet joint app helps detect African swine fever in wild boar. African swine fever (ASF) can spread through several routes, including via the natural movement of wild boar. The virus is equally lethal to pigs and wild boar. Therefore, testing deceased wild boar for the presence of the ASF virus is the most reliable way to early detect (and react to) the disease in these populations. FAO joined forces with the MammalNet project team, in adding new features to their free mobile application, iMammalia, to report wild boar carcasses in the Balkans and beyond. The app, already being used in Europe, was originally designed for easy recording the presence of mammals. More... 24-08-2020
	More than 3 million people facing acute food insecurity as Burkina Faso grapples with COVID-19 and conflict. Urgent and sustained action is needed to address worsening food and nutrition insecurity in Burkina Faso, say the FAO and the WFP, citing alarming new data. Some 3.3 million people are estimated to be facing acute food insecurity during the current lean season, that period which precedes the harvest in September. The latest analysis by the Cadre Harmonise indicates an increase in acute food insecurity of more than 50 percent since the situation in Burkina Faso was last assessed in March. Experts say the crisis has been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 on people's ability to earn money to cover their daily needs in a country already reeling from conflict and climate change. More... 21-08-2020
	FAO and Green Climate Fund partner for climate change adaptation and green growth in Armenia. The Green Climate Fund Board approved a project in Armenia, formulated with FAO support, to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation, promote rural green growth, and increase the resilience of forests. The eight-year Green Climate Fund project, with a total budget of USD 18.7 million, will be implemented by FAO and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of Armenia. A key element of the project is the involvement of the private sector for a wider impact, and to ensure long-term sustainability by introducing energy-efficient heating stoves for rural areas. More... 19-08-2020
	FAO and Green Climate Fund partner for climate change adaptation and green growth in Armenia. The Green Climate Fund Board approved a project in Armenia, formulated with FAO support, to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation, promote rural green growth, and increase the resilience of forests. The eight-year Green Climate Fund project, with a total budget of USD 18.7 million, will be implemented by FAO and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of Armenia. A key element of the project is the involvement of the private sector for a wider impact, and to ensure long-term sustainability by introducing energy-efficient heating stoves for rural areas. More... 19-08-2020
	Kyrgyzstan strengthens disaster risk management. In 2019, FAO launched a project together with the Ministry of Emergency Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic to enhance disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness in the agriculture sector to support climate change adaptation and ensure food security and better nutrition. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO continues to support Kyrgyzstan in climate change adaptation. The Organization has provided the Ministry of Emergency Situation with equipment to establish its system for the efficient processing and management of a database on types of natural disasters in the Kyrgyz Republic. These will be identified using FAO tools, such as Collect Earth. More... 17-08-2020
	If managed sustainably, Albania’s Vjosa Valley can spur green economy development. FAO has now started a new project for the effective and improved management of Vjosa Valley’s natural resources, which will support farmers and authorities through sustainable development in the green economy and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 (life on land) and 13 (climate action). The project is financed by the SDG Acceleration Fund with contributions by the Government of Norway and contributes to FAO’s region-wide umbrella programme on managing natural resources sustainably, under a changing climate. More... 17-08-2020
	EBRD and FAO welcome landmark Ukrainian legislation on agricultural cooperation. By working together, farmers can improve their access to high quality inputs, modern technologies, technical advice, financing, and markets – both at home and abroad – and strengthen their bargaining power. An EBRD/FAO team comprising legal and technical experts helped design the law, which was later reviewed by leading international experts from the International Co-operative Alliance, the Canadian Co-operative Association, Rabobank, and FAO’s legal team. More... 14-08-2020
	FAO and Japan support Syrian refugees and Turkish host communities in starting agribusinesses. Another round of vocational trainings are about to start in provinces to support selected Syrian refugees under temporary protection and Turkish citizens in launching micro-scale agrifood businesses. The FAO project, funded by the Government of Japan, will provide useful vocational and entrepreneurship skills, technical support services, as well as basic tools and equipment. The inauguration of the activity which is part of the project "Promoting self-reliant livelihoods through employment and micro-entrepreneurship" was attended by Sheikh Ahaduzzaman, FAO programme officer, Ibrahim Halil Cetiner, Sanl?urfa GAPTAEM Director, and local representatives of the implementing partner, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, among others. More... 07-08-2020
	Global food prices rise in July. The Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index averaged 94.2 points in July, a 1.2 percent increase from June and nearly 1.0 percent higher than July 2019. The FAO Food Price Index tracks international prices of the most commonly traded food commodities. The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index increased 7.6 percent since June to reach a five-month high, with international quotations for the key oils rising amid, in the case of palm oil, likely production slowdowns, revived global import demand and protracted migrant labor shortages. The price coverage of the FAO Food Price Index was expanded and rebased in July 2020. The feature article of the latest Food Outlook explains details on this revision. More... 06-08-2020
	Setting the stage to withstand the crisis. Consolidating social and agricultural approaches with advanced nutrition. In 2017–2019, a global FAO project, funded by the Russian Federation, explored avenues for bringing together various social protection and agricultural support measures to strengthen food security and nutrition outcomes of the most vulnerable populations and help them emerge from poverty. One of the pathways explored in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan in the recent years was the Cash+ programme, combining national social protection cash transfers and agricultural assistance in the form of various agricultural inputs and knowledge through training. This proved to be particularly helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic, making households more confident and resilient on their way through the crisis. More... 06-08-2020
	Pandemic’s impact on agrifood production and markets in Eurasia is as diverse as the region itself. Some food prices in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus peaked during the first six months of 2020, but prolonged logistics, trade and market disruptions continue to challenge agrifood value chains, according to the report. The Europe and Central Asia: Regional food market situation and policy bulletin overviews market supply and demand in the region and looks at the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic of agrifood markets, value chains and policies. The information was gathered through ongoing surveys and monitoring in the region. More... 03-08-2020
	FAO-led global COVID-19 Food Coalition gains momentum. The Italian government-proposed initiative aims to tackle the long-term impacts of the pandemic on food and agriculture, engaging more countries to support the efforts. Presented in June, the coalition is a multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral mechanism that aims to mobilize political, financial and technical assistance in support of countries affected by the current crisis. It will offer a platform to develop a dialogue among diverse stakeholders including private sector, academia, farmer organizations, civil society, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others to provide country-tailored responses to the COVID-19 impacts on food systems. More... 31-07-2020
	IKEA Foundation contributes $3.5 million to support FAO's work with refugees and host communities in eastern Africa. Initiative seeks to increase self-reliance of vulnerable populations and lay the groundwork for increased agribusiness investment. A $3.5 million dollar contribution from the IKEA Foundation will support efforts by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to empower refugees and their host communities in one of the world's largest displacement crises. The partnership will help vulnerable populations in Kenya and Uganda to generate a reliable source of income, by helping them to cultivate in-demand crops and connecting them to market opportunities. More... 30-07-2020
	FAO unveils platform to help accelerate action on reducing food loss and waste. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today unveiled a comprehensive platform to help the global community step up action to reduce food loss and waste as the UN agency and partners call for increased efforts and gear up for the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste - to be marked for the first time on 29 September 2020. The Technical Platform on the Measurement and Reduction of Food Loss and Waste brings together information on measurement, reduction, policies, alliances, actions and examples of successful models applied to reduce food loss and waste across the globe. More... 30-07-2020
	Quality seeds bring climate resilience to Kyrgyz agriculture. A new initiative has started in Kyrgyzstan by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration, that contributes to the spread of climate change adaptation processes in agriculture and food systems by improving the resilience of seed systems and the quality of climate-tolerant seed varieties. More... 29-07-2020
	FAO and Japan continue fighting locust in Central Asia. FAO, the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan will continue to collaborate in the second phase of a regional project to enhance locust management in Tajikistan. The agreement of the project for improved locust management was signed today by Takayuki Miyashita, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative, and Tanabe Hideki, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. More... 28-07-2020
	Kenya beats back desert locust upsurge for now, but East Africa remains at risk. Q&A with Cyril Ferrand, FAO’s Resilience Team Leader for East Africa. At the moment FAO is fighting the second generation of Desert Locusts. We have made significant progress in a number of countries, especially in Kenya, where only two of the 29 counties that were infested in February have Desert Locusts today. In the coming days, that will drop to one county, and within three weeks Kenya should be free of large-scale infestations altogether. That is a success but the threat of possible re-infestation towards the end of the year will call for careful and continued surveillance. More... 28-07-2020
	FAO and Russian Federation sign Contribution Agreement to ramp up fight against desert locusts, help affected communities. FAO and the Russian Federation have signed a $10 million Contribution Agreement aimed at boosting efforts to control and eliminate Desert Locusts in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda. The agreement was signed today by FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Rome-based UN Agencies Victor Vasiliev during a virtual ceremony. More... 27-07-2020
	UNECE/FAO studies contribute to sustainable management of precious forests. The forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia are essential for this vast region, whose total area is almost equal to that of the European Union. They play a key role providing protection against land erosion and soil loss, safeguarding precious biodiversity, serving as carbon sinks, and supporting the livelihoods of the overwhelmingly rural population which inhabits the region. To support evidence-based management of these forests, UNECE and FAO have published bilingual (English/Russian) studies on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, providing a detailed overview of forest resources and the forest sector in each of the countries, as well as policies and institutions in place for addressing challenges for sustainable forest management. More... 24-07-2020
	United Kingdom supports FAO's desert locust-fighting efforts with ? 17 million contribution. "We are once again grateful to the United Kingdom for their consistent support, which will go far helping to safeguard the food security and livelihoods of vulnerable farmers and their families in Africa and Asia threatened by desert locust," said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. The funds come via the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) and are in addition to a previous contribution of ? 8 million donated earlier this year for the desert locust appeal. The contribution from the United Kingdom will scale up ongoing efforts in East Africa, Yemen and Southwest Asia as well as help countries in West Africa prepare for a potential incursion of the pest. More... 23-07-2020
	FAO and Islamic Development Bank strengthen partnership with new cooperation agreement. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) today strengthened their long-standing partnership through a new agreement and action plan, focusing on agriculture-related business development, technical assistance and capacity development. The Memorandum of Understanding - the first to be signed virtually by the IsDB - will also focus on project design/implementation, policy advice and knowledge-sharing to increase the joint impact of both FAO and the Bank's work in the agricultural sectors. More... 22-07-2020
	Yemen sees return to alarming levels of food insecurity. Economic shocks, conflict, floods, desert locusts and now COVID-19 are creating a perfect storm that could reverse hard-earned food security gains in Yemen, warns the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and partners. The analysis carried out so far in 133 districts in southern Yemen[1] forecasts an alarming increase of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity, i.e. in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) by the end of the year. More... 22-07-2020
	FAO webinar puts agricultural research in focus. Agricultural research is central to unlocking the potential of agricultural innovation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. FAO organized a webinar focusing on Europe and Central Asia on “Agricultural research in Europe and Central Asia in the post-COVID-19 era: Can be produced more with less?” The event discussed information and experiences with governments and research institutes on the relevance of agricultural research and innovation in adopting and promoting new and innovative technologies for increased food production with fewer resources. The full webinar is available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/AOthncJBAcs). More... 22-07-2020
	FAO launches Hand-in-Hand geospatial data platform to help build stronger food and agriculture sectors post COVID-19. The platform has a large and rich set of data on food, agriculture, socioeconomics, and natural resources to help strengthen evidence-based decision-making in the food and agriculture sectors. It is a crucial tool for all efforts to build back better and create more resilient food systems post COVID-19. It boasts over one million geospatial layers and thousands of statistics series with over 4,000 metadata records, bringing together geographic information and statistical data on over ten domains linked to food and agriculture - from food security, crops, soil, land, water, climate, fisheries, livestock to forestry. It also includes information on COVID-19's impact on food and agriculture. More... 21-07-2020
	World's most comprehensive analysis of forest resources launched today in an innovative format. FAO launched today the most comprehensive forestry assessment to date in an innovative and easy-to-use digital format. Available for public viewing, the Global Forest Resources Assessment report (FRA 2020) and its first-ever online interactive dissemination platform contain detailed regional and global analyses for 236 countries and territories. Users can now consult a comparable and consistent set of more than 60 forest indicators across countries and regions and download the requested data in a non-proprietary digital format. More... 21-07-2020
	Global action needed now to halt spread of deadly pig disease. Pork is the most consumed meat in the world, representing 35.6 percent of global meat consumption. In recent years, African swine Fever (ASF) - which may cause up to 100 percent mortality in pigs - has become a major crisis for the pork industry, causing massive losses in pig populations and generating drastic economic consequences. The OIE and FAO call on countries and partners to join forces against this deadly pig disease by adoptingthe new Initiative for the Global Control of ASF (http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9164en). More... 20-07-2020
	New report identifies 27 countries heading for COVID-19-driven food crises. New analysis out today by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) identifies 27 countries that are on the frontline of impending COVID-19-driven food crises, as the pandemic's knock-on effects aggravate pre-existing drivers of hunger. The joint analysis by FAO and WFP warns these "hotspot countries" are at high risk of - and in some cases are already seeing - significant food security deteriorations in the coming months, including rising numbers of people pushed into acute hunger. More... 17-07-2020
	Analysis on the state of small farms in Albania can advance their future. A new FAO study on Albanian smallholders is a crucial step towards evidence-based decision-making for the benefit of some 300 000 small farms and the Albanian countryside. The Smallholders and family farms in Albania – Country study report (http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca7450en) also provides a set of recommendations, mainly at the policy level, to ensure improvements in areas hindering development, including a set of measures to support transformation of small and subsistence farms into viable and competitive commercial (and semi-commercial) farms. More... 17-07-2020
	Rising uncertainties from COVID-19 cloud medium-term agricultural prospects. According to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029, the pandemic is expected to depress demand in the next few years and could further undermine food security. The joint OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029 report (http://www.fao.org/publications/oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook/2020-2029/en/) finds that over the next ten years supply growth is going to outpace demand growth, causing real prices of most commodities to remain at or below their current levels. Fluctuations in the driving factors of supply and demand could lead to strong price variations around this general path. More... 16-07-2020
	FAO launches the new COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme outlining seven key priority areas. FAO unveiled today its new comprehensive COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme, aimed at preventing a global food emergency during and after the COVID-19 pandemic while working on medium to long-term development response for food security and nutrition. The Programme was launched today during a virtual dialogue with private and public sectors entitled "Joint action on COVID-19: boosting our food and agricultural response". The event was organised by FAO to provide an agile and coordinated global response that ensures access to nutritious food for all by mobilizing all forms of resources and partnerships at country, regional and global level. More... 14-07-2020
	As more go hungry and malnutrition persists, achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 in doubt, UN report warns. The latest edition of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (http://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/en/), published today, estimates that almost 690 million people went hungry in 2019 - up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years. High costs and low affordability also mean billions cannot eat healthily or nutritiously. The hungry are most numerous in Asia, but expanding fastest in Africa. Across the planet, the report forecasts, the COVID-19 pandemic could tip over 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020. (Flare-ups of acute hunger in the pandemic context may see this number escalate further at times.) More... 13-07-2020
	FAO Council approves new measures to reform the UN agency. The FAO Council today approved a series of measures proposed by the Director-General QU Dongyu to modernize the UN agency and make it more efficient and effective. Composed of 49 member countries and executive organ of the FAO Conference, the Council met virtually for the first time in FAO's history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its final report, the FAO Council "supported the Director-General's vision for the Organization to be fit-for-purpose, modern, inclusive and agile, while preserving its technical capacity, in particular through a more modular and flexible structure aiming to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and cross-sectoral collaboration." More... 10-07-2020
	EcorNaturaSi and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat to boost rural, mountain, forest and island communities’ livelihoods. The two organizations committed to improving value chains and access to markets for small-scale producers; advocating for the conservation of biodiversity; reducing food loss and waste; and promoting animal welfare. "This collaboration will benefit vulnerable smallholder producers and their environments. It will help them safeguard and promote their unique food and non-food products, and boost their incomes. And throughout this process, they will learn how to better care for their environments," said Hiroto Mitsugi, FAO Assistant Director-General. More... 09-07-2020
	Online training helps veterinarians in Lumpy skin disease preparedness. FAO offers an electronic training kit in the form of a four-week online course on Lumpy skin disease (LSD) preparedness. The current pilot course has been co-organized by FAO and the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), under the umbrella of the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs). The course materials have been developed jointly by a team of experts from FAO and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute in Germany. The main goal of the pilot is to elicit experts’ feedback to further improve the course. Participants include invited representatives of veterinary services from 44 countries, all the way from Western Europe to East Asia. More... 09-07-2020
	FAO welcomes additional ˆ15 million from the European Union to fight Desert Locusts and their impacts on food security. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, today welcomed a ˆ15 million contribution from the European Union to fight the Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa as a new wave of locusts is emerging in the region. The European Commission said it had allocated funds to support the UN agency and partner countries in combatting the worst Desert Locust upsurges seen in the region in decades. The funds came via the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (EU DEVCO). The EU made a previous contribution of ˆ11 million to the locust appeal in February. More... 08-07-2020
	Social protection measures offer help in countering COVID-19 impacts. An FAO webinar, the fourth in a series of regional COVID-19 webinars, discussed practical solutions aiming to mitigate COVID-19 impacts and associated challenges, and provide opportunities through social protection measures. The discussion examined proven ways and tools, as well as analyzed strengths, weaknesses, and requirements of the adopted measures for the benefit of rural populations. The full webinar is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn0JOG7qfe4). More... 08-07-2020
	North Macedonia receives continued support for "greening". The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the main global fund financing actions to fight climate change, approved its second project for North Macedonia under the readiness and preparatory support programme to help the country become more prepared for the impacts of climate change. This is the continuation of a similar effort, completed in 2019. The project, which will run for an 18-month period, started with a virtual workshop bringing together 130 representatives of key government institutions, ministries, the private sector, civil society, academia, and development partners. More... 08-07-2020
	Sweet future for Turkish beekeepers. FAO provided 400 beehives and equipment to beekeepers in the villages of Karaman and Konya districts where beekeeping is an especially important activity, to support the integrated forest management plan for Eregli in the centre of Turkey. The activity is part of a project on sustainable land management and climate-friendly agriculture jointly implemented with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and funded by the Global Environment Fund. Honeybees carry out 85 percent of pollination in nature. Hence as bees fly from flower to flower, they deliver a crucial service of preserving and developing biodiversity and ensuring food reliability and income, as well as honey and other bee products. More... 07-07-2020
	FAO and Rabobank's new partnership focuses on helping make food systems more sustainable, including through innovative investments. Joint projects aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve land and water use, and empower smallholder farmers to reduce food losses and address the challenges of climate change. FAO has signed a new partnership agreement with Rabobank, a Dutch cooperative bank, with the intention of helping targeted rural communities benefit from more inclusive, sustainable food systems. It also envisages jointly exploring the use of innovative financial instruments to bridge financing gaps in emerging markets and to promote sustainability in food systems investments. More... 06-07-2020
	The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu proposes new structure to make FAO agile and efficient. QU Dongyu presented to the FAO Council a second set of measures to reform the UN agency. These follow those approved by the Council in December 2019, aimed at making FAO more agile, efficient and accountable. Qu also outlined the current and future challenges facing food security and agriculture at large, and his vision to respond to them. "The further adjustments that I am presenting today are guided by the same vision: creating an inclusive and agile FAO that serves its Members to achieve the "four betters": better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life by further transparent, open, innovative, responsible and effective reform," Qu said. More... 06-07-2020
	New FAO Representative takes up duties in Kyrgyzstan. Adnan Quereshi has been appointed as FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan, effective from 1 July. The British national will switch to the Central Asian country from the Organization’s Rome headquarters, where he served as senior programme officer since 2018. "Kyrgyzstan is a vast country with very varied geography and climate, and FAO’s project portfolio reflects this diversity," Quereshi said. "I look forward to learning more about our work covering aquaculture, youth engagement, animal health, food security and nutrition, locust, sustainable resource management, and many other areas." More... 06-07-2020
	FAO partners with the Adaptation Fund to help vulnerable countries fight the impact of climate change. FAO has been accredited as an implementing partner of the Adaptation Fund and will work with the international fund on projects to help vulnerable countries fight the harmful effects of climate change. FAO is already accredited with the Green Climate Fund and now becomes the 13th multilateral implementing entity to work with the Adaptation Fund. "FAO's official accreditation to the Adaption Fund is a significant step forward in our work to promote food security and nutrition in countries particularly affected by climate change," said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General. More... 03-07-2020
	Good agricultural practices help Azerbaijani hazelnut farmers increase efficiency and quality. A new FAO project catalyzing the efficiency and sustainability of Azerbaijan’s hazelnut sector "HAZER" was virtually launched in June, under the FAO-Azerbaijan Partnership Programme. The project therefore aims to empower smallholder farmers to adopt good agricultural practices for the increased production efficiency of hazelnuts, with adapted mechanization technologies and services and to increase the quality of nuts produced, with a specific focus on reducing the risk of aflatoxin contamination. More... 03-07-2020
	Global food commodity prices rebound in June. In June, global food commodity prices rose for the first time since the beginning of the year driven by a rebound in vegetable oils, sugar and dairy quotations. However, in the cereals and meat markets, most prices remained under downward pressure amid market uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks international prices of the most traded food commodities, averaged 93.2 points in June, some 2.4 percent higher than the previous month. More... 02-07-2020
	"Without shared efforts, we cannot achieve our goals". In two neighbouring countries, water sharing leads to modern technologies, cross-border cooperation, and increased women involvement. Water is a scarce natural resource consumed not only by humans, but much more by agriculture. The Isfara river in north Tajikistan, shared with Kyrgyzstan, has been the centre of conflicts over water for many years until five United Nations Agencies stepped in to foster cooperation through fair and sustainable water management under the framework of the South-South Cooperation. More... 01-07-2020
	Traditional bamboo cultivation system in the Republic of Korea earns place on global agricultural heritage sites list. The Republic of Korea's traditional bamboo-based farming system in Damyang has been recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), a designation managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is the fifth time a site from the Republic of Korea has won the GIAHS recognition. Based on traditional agroecological practices, the site is an impressive example of sustainable agriculture approach linking nature and traditional farming practices while respecting the environment. More... 26-06-2020
	Time to scale up and support Africa’s Great Green Wall. "We have to promote sustainable eco-economies. Restoration and associated livelihood benefits must be scaled up," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said to heads of United Nations agencies and other multilateral entities at a round table on how to roll out a project that spans 8,000 kilometers and aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030. The Great Green Wall Initiative, endorsed by the African Union in 2007, is a response to the challenge of desertification and climate change along the arid strip of land in the Sahara-Sahel region, stretching from Senegal to Djibouti. FAO has played a leading role in initial projects linked to the initiative, which have showcased its potential and identified its needs. More... 25-06-2020
	Virtual event showed ways to keep family farming alive through the pandemic. Food systems in Europe and Central Asia are under pressure by COVID-19. Food outlets and people’s mobility have been temporarily suspended, trade has been disrupted, unemployment is on the rise. Their impacts are yet to be quantified, notably in relation to smallholder agriculture that plays a pivotal role in the region. FAO organized a webinar focusing on the numerous needs and constraints of smallholders and family farms in the region, highlighting the specific challenges that are further evolving due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 24-06-2020
	Experts joined a webinar on the challenges of fisheries and aquaculture in the face of climate change. Fisheries are expected to be significantly affected by climate change as a result of acidification of seawaters, changes in sea temperatures and circulation patterns, increase in frequency and severity of extreme events, as well as rise of sea levels and associated ecological changes. To address these challenges and share national experiences, experts from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and FAO convened today for the first session of a two-day webinar on climate change adaptation in fisheries and aquaculture, moderated by Haydar Fersoy, FAO senior fishery officer. More... 23-06-2020
	FAO and the EU highlight the vital role of biodiversity in building sustainable food systems. If we want to shift towards healthy and sustainable food systems and build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to re-connect agriculture with ecosystem services and unleash biodiversity's full potential to enhance our food and agriculture production, the participants of a high-level panel discussion, co-organised by FAO and the European Union, heard today. The virtual discussion entitled "The European Green Deal: A Conversation on the Transformative Force of the EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategies to build Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems" focused on ways to strengthen the FAO-EU collaboration on addressing challenges to sustainably manage biodiversity across all agricultural sectors. More... 23-06-2020
	What's in a name? Or better yet, what's in a cheese? With youth increasingly leaving rural areas for cities and with processed foods on the rise, traditional foods run the risk of disappearing, especially as habits and lifestyles change. But by putting traditional foods like sulguni and Tushetian guda on the map – linking people, products and places – FAO, together with partners like the government of Georgia, is helping to instil a sense of pride in rich local, food heritage, especially among younger generations. Recognizing producers’ contribution to national food and biodiversity heritage and increasing the value of and pride in these products boosts livelihoods and helps to keep these food traditions alive and celebrated for years to come. More... 18-06-2020
	FAO Director-General calls for new approach to stop soil loss on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2020. A new approach is needed to combat soil degradation, desertification and drought if we are to meet the growing demand for food to feed the world's population, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, said today. The Director-General was speaking at RECSOIL: Recarbonization of global soils , a virtual event convened by FAO on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The theme of this year's international day is "Food.Feed.Fibre. Sustainable consumption and production". More... 17-06-2020
	Matching grants help migrants’ businesses take off in Tajikistan. The matching grants pilot is a part of the FAO project, “Developing capacity for strengthening food security and nutrition in selected countries of Caucasus and Central Asia,” funded by the Russian Federation. It has supported vulnerable families in Tajikistan in becoming more resilient to the consequences of global crises, be it pandemics, natural disasters or other crises. By leveraging innovative in-country solutions, these projects are helping ensure continued food security and boosting rural economies, both key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. More... 16-06-2020
	Towards innovative, conflict-sensitive and human rights-based approaches to forest monitoring. With the support of Finland, a national-scale forest inventory will be implemented in Myanmar, including in areas with security and conflict issues. The Governments of Myanmar and Finland today launched a trailblazing project designed to allow for monitoring of forests in a manner that is sensitive to local conflicts and protects human rights. More... 16-06-2020
	Tunisia’s unique farming systems win recognition as part of the global agricultural heritage. Tunisia's traditional Ramli agricultural systems in the lagoons of Ghar El Melh and its hanging gardens from Djebba El Olia, have been recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), a designation managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is the second time Tunisian sites have won the GIAHS recognition, after Gafsa Oases in 2011. More... 15-06-2020
	Growing productivity for Georgia’s women farmers. Georgia is primarily an agricultural country, and women are crucial participants and contributors to agricultural development. Nonetheless, the contribution of women to agricultural production remains invisible and under-recognized. With better agricultural knowledge rural women could enhance their farms’ production and raise standard of living for their children and families. To overcome this shortcoming, female farmers in Georgia have learned about agricultural production and good practices from FAO and the European Union (EU) under the umbrella of the European Neighborhood Programme for Agricultural and Rural Development (ENPARD). More... 12-06-2020
	Webinar underlined the extension and advisory services’ crucial impact on sustainable food systems. FAO, in partnership with the Regional Network of Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services, organized a webinar to discuss the role of extension and advisory services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a series of regional webinars, succeeding the online event for Asia and another on food systems. Examples from Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Tajikistan, and Ukraine were presented. The full webinar is available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixON8NHGzo4). More... 11-06-2020
	Global food markets still brace for uncertainty in 2020/21 because of COVID-19 says FAO. Food markets will face many more months of uncertainty due to COVID-19, but the agri-food sector is likely to show more resilience to the pandemic crisis than other sectors, according to a new report released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Food Outlook report provides the first forecasts for production and market trends in 2020-2021 for the world's most traded food commodities - cereals, oilcrops, meat, dairy, fish and sugar. More... 11-06-2020
	World Day Against Child Labour 2020: preventing child labour in agriculture during COVID-19 and beyond. FAO marked World Day Against Child Labour today by stressing the critical need to step up efforts to prevent a spike in child labour in agriculture due to the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptive global impact on livelihoods, education, food and health systems. This year's observance focused on exploring child labour mitigation measures through livelihood and food assistance, social protection, health and education programmes which can help protect children from bearing the brunt of the pandemic impacts. FAO together with its partners promotes such initiatives as part of its efforts to help ensure decent employment conditions in the agricultural sectors. More... 11-06-2020
	INTERVIEW: In times of a pandemic, everyone has had to adapt to ensure safe food. Mary Kenny is FAO’s food safety and consumer protection officer for the Europe and Central Asia region, based at the Organization’s regional office. Kenny spoke recently with communication officer Victoria Kalinin on the occasion of World Food Safety Day (7 June) declared by the UN in 2018, about how FAO is helping countries in the region within this effort. More... 10-06-2020
	Emerging data suggest COVID-19 is driving up hunger in vulnerable countries. Initial and ongoing assessments by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provide strong indications that the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts are driving up hunger in countries that were already experiencing high levels of food insecurity prior to the disease's outbreak. "The COVID-19 pandemic poses a clear and present danger to food security and nutrition, especially to the world's most vulnerable communities" FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today at the opening of a high-level UN event on humanitarian action. More... 09-06-2020
	Fisheries management works, so it’s time to apply it more broadly. FAO’s State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020 tracks growing fish production and consumption, and highlights the promise of sustainability actions. Total fish production is set to increase to 204 million tonnes in 2030, up 15 percent from 2018, with aquaculture's share growing from its current 46 percent according to The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA). That growth is around half the increase recorded in the previous decade, and translates into an annual per capita fish food consumption is forecast to reach 21.5 kilograms by 2030. More... 08-06-2020
	Forests are critical for promoting pollination in agriculture and biodiversity, says FAO report. Forests and trees are critical for promoting pollination by bees, butterflies and other animals, and there is an urgent need to stop their habitat degradation and safeguard biodiversity, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The report jointly produced by FAO and Bioversity International, is designed to raise awareness about critical role and the benefits of forest-dependent pollinators and is targeted at forest managers, landscape planners and land use decision makers. More... 08-06-2020
	IUU fishing is a great threat to sustainable fisheries. FAO on Friday led celebrations of the 3rd International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, a scourge accounting for as much as one-seventh of the fish traded in the world. "Ensuring sustainable fisheries is essential both for present and future generations," said Vera Agostini, Deputy Director of FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. "IUU fishing is among the greatest threats. We can eliminate it -we must remember that." More... 07-06-2020
	World Environment Day 2020: Healthy ecosystems are fundamental for preventing global diseases and ensuring food security. A better understanding of the role of ecosystems and biodiversity in addressing diseases and other threats to people's lives, health, and livelihoods will enable us to overcome the COVID-19 challenges and prevent the re-emergence of such devastating outbreaks in the future. This was the key take-away from the virtual celebration of World Environment Day 2020, organized by FAO today. This year's theme "Time for Nature" highlights what needs to be done to transform our food and agricultural systems in order to restore our ecosystems and biodiversity, which are instrumental in the efforts to build back better after COVID-19. More... 05-06-2020
	Sustainable fishing receives strong support in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Today, the world is celebrating the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. There is even more to celebrate, as the 58th Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has now endorsed financial support to two FAO projects on fisheries and ecosystem-based management for the Black Sea and Mediterranean. More... 05-06-2020
	Sustainability and biodiversity in Uzbekistan receives a strong boost from FAO and GEF. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved to co-finance FAO’s efforts in Uzbekistan striving to shift food systems and land use to a sustainable track and supporting land restoration. Specifically, improvements in the wheat production and value chain are foreseen, given that the country is the sixth biggest wheat consumer in the world and that appetite is growing. During a virtual meeting, the GEF Council agreed to cover USD 6.75 million out of a total budget of USD 71.23 million as part of the global “Food systems, land use and restoration impact program.” The rest will be funded by FAO and country partners. More... 05-06-2020
	Addressing COVID-19's impacts and structural crisis in the Pacific. With or without COVID-19 cases, pandemic’s impact in the Pacific is enormous - Q&A with FAO Pacific Coordinator. Eriko Hibi, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Pacific and Representative to thirteen Pacific States discusses COVID-19 pandemic's impact in the Pacific, and plans to rebuild. More... 04-06-2020
	Thirty countries will benefit as Global Environment Facility funds FAO-led projects. Nations from Brazil to Yemen will see a boost to their efforts to protect biodiversity; reverse land degradation; adapt to climate change; safeguard international waters; and promote sustainable food systems. he Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today welcomed the decision by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council to allocate a substantial $ 176 million to 24 of its projects that tackle the critical intersection between agriculture and environmental concerns. The decision came at the Council's 58th meeting, the first to be conducted virtually. More... 04-06-2020
	FAO Food Price Index falls to 17-month low. Global commodity food prices fell for the fourth consecutive month in May, as supplies appear strong and demand weakens due to economic contractions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reported today. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks international prices of the most commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 162.5 points in May, 1.9 percent below the previous month and marking its lowest reading since December 2018. First forecasts for 2020/21 point to new records ahead for global cereal production, utilization, stocks and trade. More... 04-06-2020
	FAO Director-General appeals to donors to scale up response and ease plight of farmers and fishers in Yemen. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has appealed to donors for $100 million in urgent aid to ease the plight of desperate farmers, herders, fishers and their families in Yemen. The Director-General made his appeal on Tuesday in an address to the virtual High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, which was convened by the United Nations in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. More... 03-06-2020
	Rural families receive joint FAO-WFP support to combat climate change and COVID-19. Some parts of Kyrgyzstan were hit hard by flood, frost, and snowfall in April – an additional layer of hardship on vulnerable rural families affected by labour migration, who have already been cut off from employment due to COVID-19 border closures and movement limitations. These circumstances have left more than a thousand families without access to food markets and adequate knowledge on essential agricultural techniques and practices, which would have helped them to grow food in their backyards. More... 02-06-2020
	FAO, GAIN and Johns Hopkins Alliance for a Healthier World launch new online dashboard to inform better food policy. Dashboard houses food systems data from more than 230 countries and territories. FAO, The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and The Johns Hopkins Alliance for a Healthier World launched a new easy-to-navigate online tool designed to help decision makers understand their food systems, identify their levers of change, and decide which ones to pull. The Food Systems Dashboard is a unique holistic resource intended for policymakers, non-governmental organisations, businesses, civil society leaders, and other actors to enable timely visualisation of national food systems, understand the interconnections across multiple sectors, perform comparisons with other countries, identify key challenges, and prioritise actions. More... 01-06-2020
	COVID-19 causes havoc to supply chains for fresh fruits and vegetables. Getting fruit and vegetables from the fields to the table is extra challenging amid COVID-19 – from restrictions on movement to high transport costs and closed markets. The sector is also facing big changes in demand and prices. While the prices of some products are skyrocketing, especially those thought to boost immunity like lemons and garlic, others are plummeting. More... 29-05-2020
	Using innovation to deliver in Somalia despite COVID-19. A stark hunger outlook means finding new ways to reach Somalis in need. FAO Representative in Somalia Etienne Peterschmitt discusses COVID-19 and its impacts on vulnerable groups and the UN agency's work. More... 28-05-2020
	Lifting lockdowns – what next for food systems? As countries ease lockdown measures, a new set of challenges emerges for food production, processing, and logistics of supply chains. Some of these can provide opportunity for growth, given that policymakers and value chain actors play their part. To mitigate COVID-19 impacts and to open new opportunities, countries need practical solutions on a range of issues including food supply, food and nutrition security, trade, and markets. More... 28-05-2020
	FAO stresses the need for investment now to sustain Africa's agriculture in a post COVID-19 era. Brussels Dialogue brings together the African Union, the Organization of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Union. As COVID-19 increasingly affects Africa, the shocks to agriculture and food systems become more evident. Building resilience for the most vulnerable is now a priority. That was the message participants stressed repeatedly during the FAO Brussels Dialogue "Sustaining food security and resilience in Africa in times of COVID 19" a virtual event organized by the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels. More... 27-05-2020
	Stronger livelihoods help Armenian families manage the current crisis. Support for rural Armenians helps them face the COVID-19 pandemic with more confidence. Building stronger foundations for vulnerable Armenian families by safeguarding their livelihoods is key to ensuring that families can get through times of crises and shocks and make quicker recoveries afterwards. While COVID-19 is the current crisis, global hunger is the larger one. FAO helps families keep their livelihoods strong and stay food secure, ensuring that Armenia and countries worldwide, are on track to achieve a hunger free world. More... 26-05-2020
	FAO stands by Kyrgyzstan in locust emergency. The locust plague is one such problems that represent a serious threat for food security and nutrition, even today, even in Kyrgyzstan. Therefore, as a prevention measure to protect food security and nutrition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration will receive technical support from FAO to fight the locust. It is predicted for 2020 that, without immediate action, Kyrgyzstan is expected to have a massive population of locusts on an area of more than 120 000 hectares. More... 25-05-2020
	UN report: As the world’s forests continue to shrink, urgent action is needed to safeguard their biodiversity. Urgent action is needed to safeguard the biodiversity of the world's forests amid alarming rates of deforestation and degradation, according to the latest edition of The State of the World's Forests released today. Published on the International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May), the report shows that the conservation of the world's biodiversity is utterly dependent on the way in which we interact with and use the world's forests. More... 22-05-2020
	FAO Director-General says the fight against Desert Locusts will take time, despite significant control gains. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, has warned that efforts to control Desert Locusts will take time, noting increased concern for the Sahel and Southwest Asia is adding to the burden of efforts ongoing in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Appeal raised to $311.6 million as swarms continue to threaten the Horn of Africa, Yemen while threats are increasing in Southwest Asia and the Sahel. More... 22-05-2020
	Potential is brewing for tea growers in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Harnessing benefits for all, from field to cup. When you think of tea growing countries, Georgia and Azerbaijan might not immediately spring to mind. But the two have a long history steeped in tea production dating back to the nineteenth century. By the 1980s, they were supplying most of the tea consumed in the then Soviet Union. Their once booming tea industries rapidly declined in the years following the Soviet collapse. Today, their combined production is not even 2 percent of their peak from the 1980s, as Georgian and Azerbaijani consumers have turned to less expensive, better quality imports. More... 21-05-2020
	First International Tea Day sees call for joint action to ensure sustainability of tea sector. FAO today marked International Tea Day by stressing the crucial need to ensure the sustainability of tea production - a basis for the livelihoods of millions of farmers - especially at a time when the world economy enters a recession and incomes decline as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the current pandemic, the first observance of International Tea Day was held virtually. More... 21-05-2020
	The buzz around Turkish pine honey. This year’s event 'World Bee Day 2020', organized around the theme “Bee Engaged,” shines a spotlight on the huge role bees and pollinators play in the foods we eat and the health of our environment. The day is not just for the bees, but also recognizes the role of beekeepers. They safeguard bee populations and their biodiversity, and improve global food security through a wide range and quality of nutritious foods and food products. More... 20-05-2020
	World Bee Day 2020: FAO calls for more to be done to safeguard our tiny food heroes, amid alarming decline. Protecting bees and beekeepers crucial in times of COVID-19 to support livelihoods. This was the key take-away from the virtual celebration of World Bee Day 2020, organized by FAO in partnership with the government of Slovenia - which spear-headed the creation of the Day by the UN General Assembly in 2017, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), and Apimondia - the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations. More... 20-05-2020
	Central Asia exchanged pandemic experiences and policy work on food security. With the COVID-19 pandemic raging all over the globe, safeguarding nutrition and agriculture is vital for every country. This was the reason for FAO and Uzbekistan, as the host of the next European Regional Conference, to convene a meeting of agricultural ministers of five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) for a round-table. The virtual meeting on ensuring food security and agricultural development aimed to facilitate dialogue during the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 19-05-2020
	FAO needs $350 million to avert rising hunger as countries reel from COVID-19 pandemic’s impact. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is seeking $350 million to scale up hunger-fighting and livelihoods-boosting activities in food crisis contexts where COVID-19's impact could be devastating. Although the pandemic's full-scale and long-term impact on food security is yet to be revealed, evidence shows that in countries already hit by acute hunger, people are increasingly struggling to have access to food as incomes fall and food prices rise. More... 18-05-2020
	FAO, EU, and Georgia’s ministry launch $1 million grant for farmers to fight COVID-19 crisis. Bringing transformative agriculture solutions and building farmer resilience to those affected by the COVID-19 crisis, the European Union EU, FAO, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture have teamed up to develop an accelerated funding mechanism for Georgian farmers. Their efforts have unlocked USD 1 million in rapid funding for smallholder farmers experiencing difficulties during the pandemic. More... 15-05-2020
	Future generations receive guidance to explore the steppes. The FAO project is implemented by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, General Directorate of Plant Production, and General Directorate of Forestry, with financial support from GEF, in three distinct grasslands – K?z?lkuyu Wildlife Development Area, Tek Tek Mountains National Park, and the Karacadag Steppes in Sanliurfa. It aims to improve the conservation of Turkey’s steppe ecosystems through effective protected area management and mainstreaming steppe biodiversity conservation into production landscapes. More... 14-05-2020
	FAO makes gains in the fight against Desert Locusts in East Africa and Yemen but threat of a food security crisis remains. Releasing FAO's progress report on the locust control campaign in East Africa and Yemen, the Director-General noted that the UN agency had continued its surveillance and control operations despite constraints resulting from COVID-19 and other challenges. Preliminary estimates from the UN agency indicate that 720, 000 tonnes of cereal, enough to feed five million people a year, have been saved in ten countries by preventing the spread of Desert Locusts and damage to many more hectares. An additional 350 000 pastoral households have been spared from distress. More... 11-05-2020
	Amid ample food supplies, FAO reveals snarls in distribution during COVID-19 pandemic. In Europe and Central Asia, as well as globally, early indications project near-record wheat production and stock levels in 2020. Food supplies for major food commodities are sufficient. Still, logistics disruptions have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, challenging food distribution and agricultural production in some countries. All this was revealed in the FAO publication Regional food market situation and policy bulletin in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (http://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca8869en), which reviews the Europe and Central Asia region. More... 08-05-2020
	FAO, EU provide 60 tonnes of potato seeds to Tajik farmers. The activity helps build small producers’ capacity and improve their livelihoods in northern Shahristan and central Nurobod districts. Seed potato value chains in Tajikistan are experiencing multiple burdens. Those include challenges of poor quality, hampered import supply due to COVID-19, combined with increased seed demand ahead of the planting season. Quality potato seeds are limited in availability come at a high price; in addition, lack of access to pesticides, fertilizers and other inputs, prevent farmers from obtaining a higher return. More... 08-05-2020
	Global food commodity prices drop further in April. FAO expects subdued usage to push up cereal stocks in 2019/20 and FAO’s first forecast for wheat markets in 2020/21 points to continued growth in inventories. World food commodity prices declined for the third month in a row during April, as the economic and logistical impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant contractions in demand for many commodities. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks international prices of the most commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 165.5 points in April, some 3.4 percent lower than the previous month and 3 percent lower than April 2019. More... 07-05-2020
	Forest loss slows globally as sustainable management grows. Globally deforestation continues, albeit at a slower rate, with 10 million hectares a year being converted to other uses since 2015, down from 12 million hectares a year in the previous five years, according to the key findings of a flagship report that is conducted by FAO every five years. The key findings of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (FRA 2020) have been released today together with an interactive publication called "A Fresh Perspective: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020." The full FRA2020 report, with country data, will be released at a later date. More... 07-05-2020
	COVID-19: Using economic stimulus to reduce the long-term hunger impact. Beyond the COVID-19 health emergency, a recession looms, and countries ought to take measures now to soften the longer-term impacts on hunger and food insecurity, a new FAO policy brief says. In the 2019 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, FAO analysts noted that economic slowdowns and downturns helped explain rising undernourishment levels in 65 of the 77 countries that recorded such rises between 2011 and 2017. That underscores the risk of adverse hunger trends ahead. More... 30-04-2020
	Despite the threat of COVID-19, FAO’s work in Syria carries on – helping farmers grow food and get back on their feet. In this interview, we speak with Mike Robson, FAO Representative in Syria about the COVID-19 pandemic and what it could mean for a country such as Syria, which is on a long road to recovery after nine years of crisis. More... 29-04-2020
	FAO welcomes Russian Federation’s $10 million donation to support fight against Desert Locusts in East Africa. "We are grateful to the Russian Federation for its contribution to help fight the alarming impact of the Desert Locust upsurge. It will help efforts to stop the spread of the locusts and to safeguard the livelihoods of farmers and their families who are at risk from this scourge," Qu said. More... 28-04-2020
	Forestry industry must improve safety record. The forestry industry must take steps to improve its safety record and promote decent rural employment in support of the Sustainable Development Agenda, according to a new FAO paper published today on World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The report, Occupational safety and health in forest harvesting and silviculture: A compendium for practitioners and instructors, argues that despite incomplete statistics, forestry is one of the most dangerous civilian professions in the world. More... 27-04-2020
	"COVID-19 could not have come at a worse time for vulnerable communities across West Africa". Q&A with Coumba Sow, FAO Resilience Coordinator for West Africa. In this interview, we speak with Coumba Sow, FAO Resilience Coordinator for West Africa, about the COVID-19 pandemic and what it could mean for millions of people already grappling with hunger and conflict in West Africa. More... 27-04-2020
	New regional UN task force fosters sustainable food systems and food security. This week, the Regional United Nations System Meeting gave the green light for the kick-off of the Issue-Based Coalition (IBC) on food systems – a regional task-force to coordinate UN support on sustainable food systems in Europe and Central Asia. Sustainable food systems are a cornerstone of a sustainable future, framed by the 2030 Agenda, that should help provide healthy and nutritious diets for everyone. More... 24-04-2020
	FAO launches African swine fever preparedness online course for Europe. Although media attention is all about the human pandemic, African swine fever (ASF) is still a pressing issue. Rampaging throughout three continents, never before in history has the disease had such a wide distribution with so many millions of animals affected. To help preparedness, FAO is launching an online training course in the English language, involving more than 450 animal health practitioners from 30 European countries that have already been selected. All European countries were previously invited to join this limited course, with nominations provided by Veterinary Services. More... 22-04-2020
	Assessing El Nino’s impact on fisheries and aquaculture around the world. New report presents the main regional consequences caused by the five types of the climate pattern. While considerable resources are invested in seasonal forecasts and early-warning systems for food security, not enough is known about El Nino's impact on the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, even though its name was given in the 1600s by fishers off the coast of Peru. To remedy that, FAO is publishing the report El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects on fisheries and aquaculture. This report captures the current state of knowledge on the impacts of ENSO events across sectors, from food security to safety at sea, from fish biology and fishing operation to management measures. More... 22-04-2020
	FAO urges at G20 meeting protection of food supply chains amid COVID-19 threat. Director-General speaks to G20 agriculture ministers on behalf of UN food agencies. The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a major public health concern but also a threat to global food security, one that can be mitigated by avoiding measures that disrupt food supply chains, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu told the Agriculture Ministers of the G20 countries today. "Preserving access to safe food and nutrition is an essential part of the health response," he said, recommending countries to strengthen local production and shorten food supply chains. More... 21-04-2020
	Global Report on Food Crises reveals scope of food crises as COVID-19 poses new risks to vulnerable countries. An international alliance of UN, governmental, and nongovernmental agencies working to address the root causes of extreme hunger have released a new edition of their annual Global Report on Food Crises. The report by the Global Network Against Food Crises, along with key findings, statements by partners, and multimedia products unpacking its contents are now available at: The Global Network's website: http://www.fightfoodcrises.net/food-crises-and-covid-19/en/ More... 21-04-2020
	QU Dongyu says a coordinated response needed to address the drivers that perpetuate food crises. QU Dongyu says a coordinated response needed to address the drivers that perpetuate food crises. With conflicts, extreme weather, desert locusts, economic shocks and now COVID-19, likely to push more people into acute food insecurity, coherent actions are needed among humanitarian, development and peace actors, to address the root causes that perpetuate existing food crises, said FAO-Director-General QU Dongyu. He delivered his remarks at an online briefing organized by the United Nations Security Council on the topic of 'The Protection of civilians from conflict induced hunger'. More... 21-04-2020
	FAO, IFAD, the World Bank and WFP on the occasion of the Extraordinary G20 Agriculture Minister's Meeting. On the occasion of today's Extraordinary G20 Agriculture Minister's Meeting, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP) have issued the Joint Statement on COVID-19 Impacts on Food Security and Nutrition. More... 21-04-2020
	FAO addresses agricultural land abandonment in Armenia. FAO continues helping Armenia’s Ministry of Economy address agricultural land abandonment, affecting approximately one-third of all arable land in the country. Now, the joint expert team of FAO and the Ministry of Economy has prepared a draft law on ensuring effective use of agricultural land, which was presented to the Legal Working Group of the Ministry of Economy for review and comment. More... 20-04-2020
	Contribution will help to scale up detection and containment of locusts.FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has welcomed a $10 million donation from Mastercard Foundation to step up the fight against the Desert Locust outbreak in East Africa amid concern about an imminent upsurge in numbers. "I thank Mastercard Foundation for its generous contribution as the Desert Locust threatens to provoke a humanitarian emergency," QU said. "It is crucial that we act hand in hand, scale up efforts to contain the locusts and protect the livelihoods of millions of farmers and their families." More... 17-04-2020
	COVID-19: FAO and African Union commit to safeguarding food security amid crisis.Regional body and UN agency join forces to minimize lockdown’s impact on continent where one in five goes hungry. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the African Union (AU) and international partners today described the food and agriculture system as "an essential service that must continue to operate during periods of lockdown, emergency, curfew and other containment measures". More... 16-04-2020
	FAO study suggests policies to strengthen family farms in Serbia. The Smallholders and family farms in Serbia study was written to better understand their situation and trends and, ultimately, provide policy recommendations on further developing family farms, while at the same time ensuring inclusive growth, improved rural livelihoods, and reduction of rural poverty. In the past ten years, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries accounted for on average 9.2 percent of the total gross value added and employed 21 percent of the labour force. The sector is characterised predominantly by high volatility in growth rates caused by frequent extreme weather events, such as drought and floods. More... 15-04-2020
	What a difference some greens make. The pilot project, Productive Social Contract/Cash Plus, has helped more than 150 households living in this western region of Kyrgyzstan to improve their nutrition and increase their incomes by giving them training in agriculture. This is designed to complement the existing state social cash transfer programme. The pilot is part of the wider project that is funded by the Russian Federation. More... 09-04-2020
	FAO continues to fight Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa and Yemen despite COVID-19 constraints.More than 240,000 hectares treated and 740 personnel trained in affected countries since January 2020. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN is continuing its efforts to contain the Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa despite restrictions on the movement of personnel and equipment resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. More... 09-04-2020
	FAO rolls out toolkit for smart policymaking during the COVID-19 crisis.Imagine a virtual space where to search and find what decision makers are doing in their countries worldwide to respond to and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. A global library that provides detailed information on how different countries, with different social and fiscal landscapes and diverse agricultural endowments, are trying to keep their supply chains moving amid the disruptions caused by travel and other health restrictions. That space is now available and free to access. More... 08-04-2020
	COVID-19: Our hungriest, most vulnerable communities face "a crisis within a crisis".In countries whose medical systems are under-resourced, the health crisis could be compounded by a hunger crisis and lost livelihoods unless we act now to help. In this interview, Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO's Emergency and Resilience Division, explains the particular challenges COVID-19 poses in vulnerable communities already coping with high levels of hunger due to pre-existing crises -- and how the Organization is gearing up to help. More... 07-04-2020
	Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences joins forces with FAO to support sustainable agriculture and rural economies.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) have signed a partnership agreement which foresees joint efforts to support smallholder farmers through technological innovation. The collaboration will focus on developing sustainable, resilient and efficient food systems across urban and rural areas, and sharing knowledge and technologies with developing countries through FAO's South-South and triangular cooperation framework. More... 07-04-2020
	World food prices drop in March.World food prices declined sharply in March, driven mostly by demand-side contractions linked to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in global oil prices due mostly to expectations of economic slowdown as governments roll out restrictions designed to respond to the health crisis. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly traded food commodities, averaged 172.2 points during the month, down 4.3 percent from February. More... 02-04-2020
	Mitigating impacts of COVID-19 on food trade and markets.Millions of people around the world depend on international trade for their food security and livelihoods. As countries move to enact measures aiming to halt the accelerating COVID-19 pandemic, care must be taken to minimise potential impacts on the food supply or unintended consequences on global trade and food security. More... 31-03-2020
	A battle plan for ensuring global food supplies during the COVID-19 crisis. FAO’s Chief Economist maps the ways the world can mitigate shocks to agriculture and food systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has put the world on a crisis footing, with unprecedented actions to restrict movements and plans for radical deployment of public funds to combat the threat posed by a novel coronavirus that knows no boundaries. Success will entail coherent and robust plans for our food systems. FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero Cullen outlines a framework for how countries can think about and craft these plans. More... 26-03-2020
	FAO Director-General urges G20 to ensure that food value chains are not disrupted during COVID-19 pandemic. Qu made his appeal in an online address from Rome to the G20 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19. Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the summit which was called to forge a coordinated global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications. More... 26-03-2020
	FAO hand in hand with Italy in the fight against COVID-19. FAO is illuminating its headquarters in Rome with the green-white-red colours of the Italian "Tricolore" flag, as a sign of solidarity with its host country as it grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic.The lights were turned on this evening and will stay on until the novel coronavirus crisis ends.This year marks FAO's 75th anniversary. The Organization has been based in Rome since 1951. More... 23-03-2020
	UN fast tracks $10 million loan to help scale up FAO action to fight Desert Locusts. FAO is further scaling up its activities to fight the Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa thanks to a $10 million loan approved this week by the United Nations' Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). This loan will supplement the $10 million grant that CERF contributed to FAO in January to fight the outbreak which is threatening to provoke a humanitarian emergency in the region. More... 20-03-2020
	FAO leads the way to clearer peatland mapping and monitoring. Peatlands cover only 3 percent of the world's surface yet contain as much carbon as all of its vegetation, dramatically underscoring their pivotal role in global climate regulation. Their degradation, by drainage or fire or other forces, triggers their conversion from slow carbon sinks into fast sources capable of releasing carbon stored over millennia in a few decades. More... 18-03-2020
	Green Climate Fund approves a $119 million climate resilient project for Cuba. The Board of the Green Climate Fund today approved a $119 million disbursement for a FAO co-designed project to boost the resilience to climate change of vulnerable rural communities in Cuba. The Green Climate Fund will contribute $38.2 million, while the Government of Cuba provides $81.7 million in co-financing for the project, which is expected to help 240 000 people. Announced today by the Fund's board meeting in Geneva, this is the first project in Cuba to be supported by the Green Climate Fund. More... 12-03-2020
	Traditional farming system in Brazil added to global agricultural heritage list. A traditional farming system in the Southern Espinhaco Mountain Range of the Minas Gerais State in Brazil has been recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), managed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is the first time a Brazilian site has won the GIAHS recognition. More... 11-03-2020
	FAO prioritizes staff wellbeing in the fight to contain COVID-19. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has over the last five weeks implemented a series of precautionary measures to protect its employees and their families against the threat of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). These measures have been implemented in accordance with guidelines and protocols set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Italian authorities. More... 09-03-2020
	Acute food insecurity hotspots need urgent attention. While global attention has focused on the swarms of Desert Locusts attacking crops in East Africa, a number of other countries and regions are also confronting serious food security threats and require support, according to the FAO. This represents the FAO component of the UN system's consolidated 2020 humanitarian appeal. It does not include the additional $138 million that the Organization is seeking for countries in East Africa affected by the ongoing Desert Locust upsurge. More... 09-03-2020
	Securing sustainable food systems hinges on gender equality. The three United Nations' Rome-based agencies dedicated to food and agriculture called today for bolder action to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls in the agricultural sector and beyond. Securing sustainable global food systems is only possible if women everywhere are empowered and their rights recognized and respected, stressed FAO, IFAD and WFP at an event today marking International Women's Day (IWD) at FAO headquarters. More... 05-03-2020
	Dry weather increases by two the list of countries in need of external food assistance. The effects of inadequate rainfall on agricultural production added two countries - Namibia and Tanzania - to FAO's list of countries in need of external assistance for food, adding to strains triggered by desert locusts even as global cereal production appears strong, according to FAO's quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, released today. More... 05-03-2020
	World food prices drop in February. World food prices declined in February for the first time in four months due to a sharp fall in the export prices of vegetable oils, partly driven by fears that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will slow global demand. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 180.5 points in February, down 1.0 percent from the previous month but still 8.1 percent higher than a year earlier. More... 05-03-2020
	Germany contributes EUR 50 million to strengthen resilience in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through the German Development Bank KfW, has contributed EUR 50 million ($54 million) to a resilience building programme to be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). More... 04-03-2020
	FAO welcomes ˆ17 million contribution from Germany to combat the impact of the Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu has welcomed a ˆ17 million contribution from Germany to provide assistance to those directly affected by the Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa. Germany's Permanent Representative to FAO, Ulrich Seidenberger, made the announcement at FAO headquarters in Rome. The new pledge comes after Germany already contributed ˆ3 million. More... 28-02-2020
	Harnessing Artificial Intelligence's transformative power to make food systems more efficient, sustainable and inclusive. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu became today one of the first signatories of a ethical resolution on Artificial Intelligence (AI) endorsed by Pope Francis, stressing the importance of minimizing this new technology's risks while exploiting its potential benefits. "Artificial Intelligence needs to be transparent, inclusive, socially beneficial and accountable," Qu said, adding: "We need to ensure the human-centric approach in designing and implementing artificial intelligence today and in the future." More... 28-02-2020
	Ramping up the fight against Fall Armyworm. Tools are available to wrestle Fall Armyworm, a voracious invasive species that is ravaging crops in Africa, Asia and the Near East, and it is imperative to intensify coordination to curb the insect's spread. "We will need to step up the alliance among key partners from all relevant sectors at the global level," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today while opening the first meeting of the Steering Committee of the Global action for Fall Armyworm Control. Fall Armyworm, or Spodoptera frugiperda, is a moth native to the Americas that has spread in recent years and has now reached Australia. In its caterpillar state, the pest feeds on more than 80 crops, with a particular attraction to maize. More... 27-02-2020
	FAO welcomes European Union contribution of ˆ11 million to fight Desert Locust outbreak. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today welcomed an ˆ 11 million contribution from the European Union as the UN agency steps up efforts to fight the Desert Locust upsurge which has now spread from East Africa to the Persian Gulf. The European Commission announced ˆ10 million would come from the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO). Another ˆ1 million has also been allocated from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). More... 27-02-2020
	Locusts in East Africa: A race against time. East Africa is a region beset by climate- and conflict-related shocks. Millions of people are already acutely food insecure. Now they face another major hunger threat in the form of desert locusts. The locust upsurge affecting East Africa is a graphic and shocking reminder of this region's vulnerability. This is a scourge of biblical proportions. Yet as ancient as this scourge is, its scale today is unprecedented in modern times. More... 24-02-2020
	World’s food systems rely on biodiversity. Everything we eat is produced in ways that imply some transformation of the environment, which means we must have careful discussions of the type and scale of transformations we are prepared to accept, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today in opening remarks to negotiators at a high-level meeting on biodiversity. Agriculture and food systems are "at the heart of the concept of sustainable development" and are central to deliberations regarding the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, he said. More... 24-02-2020
	FAO welcomes $10 million donation from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fight Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today welcomed a $10 million donation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the fight against the Desert Locust upsurge in East Africa as the UN agency expanded its appeal. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said its donation would assist FAO as it supports governments in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia to combat locust infestation that is posing a significant threat to food production and livelihoods in the region. More... 24-02-2020
	Hunger threatens over half of the population in South Sudan. Some 6.5 million people in South Sudan - more than half of the population - could be in acute food insecurity at the height of this hunger season (May-July), three United Nations agencies warned today. The situation is particularly worrying in the areas hardest hit by the 2019 floods, where food security has deteriorated significantly since last June according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released today. More... 20-02-2020
	Italy and FAO highlight the importance of the Mediterranean diet for the sustainable management of land and water resources. The Mediterranean diet is not only healthy for humans, but also for the environment and for biodiversity. This was the main message at an event held today at FAO headquarters with the aim of raising awareness on how the Mediterranean diet can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Today's event - the third in the series of the initiative on "Mediterranean Diet's Principles for Agenda 2030" - was organized by the Government of Italy, in cooperation with Coldiretti (Italy's largest farmers' organization) and with Fondazione UniVerde. More... 13-02-2020
	Cooperation models for transforming the agricultural sector. The path to reducing unacceptable hunger levels "lies in our ability to transform the agricultural sector", FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today at a high-level panel here. "We need smarter agriculture that works with, not against, nature, that properly values and remunerates the contributions of small-scale producers, fishers, pastoralists and indigenous peoples not only to food but to preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem services," he said. More... 12-02-2020
	FAO Director-General says greater action needed to avert a humanitarian crisis as Desert Locust spreads. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today greater and faster action was needed to prevent a humanitarian crisis in East Africa as the Desert Locust upsurge was now affecting seven countries and threatened to spread even further. The Director-General was addressing donors and representatives from the affected countries at a joint breakfast meeting in New York with Mark Lowcock, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. More... 12-02-2020
	“Team effort” is high road to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is a "team effort", FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today as he welcomed the 43rd Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The fact that IFAD's governing body is meeting at FAO's headquarters ""is a clear indicator of how the Rome-based agencies work together every day and support each other," he said. More... 11-02-2020
	FAO highlights role of pulses in fighting hunger and achieving healthy diets for all. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today highlighted pulses' crucial role in addressing food insecurity and achieving healthy and balanced diets for all, pointing to the need to unlock their full potential to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. More... 07-02-2020
	FAO hails first contribution to promoting digital agriculture through knowledge-sharing. FAO today welcomes the sharing of China's digital agriculture plan on its e-agriculture platform. This contribution comes on the heels of the latest Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), where agriculture ministers of 71 nations welcomed the advancement in creating an International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture. More... 07-02-2020
	The Africa Solidarity Trust Fund donates $1 million to efforts to combat Desert Locust in East Africa. The Africa Solidarity Trust Fund (ASTF) has donated $1 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to combat the worsening Desert Locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa. The decision came at a meeting of the ASTF Steering Committee at FAO headquarters in Rome on Wednesday. More... 07-02-2020
	World food prices rise in January. World food prices rose for the fourth consecutive month in January. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 182.5 points during the month, up 0.7 percent from December and 11.3 percent higher than the same month a year earlier. Vegetable oils, sugar, and wheat were the chief drivers of the index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities. More... 06-02-2020
	UN food agencies offer support to China amid coronavirus outbreak. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have jointly expressed solidarity with China and offered support to the country as it battles the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. More... 05-02-2020
	Trees in the city – plaudits for sustainable urban forestry trailblazers. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Arbor Day Foundation today announced the first cities to be recognized under the Tree Cities of the World programme, designed to help create more resilient and sustainable cities. More... 04-02-2020
	FAO appeals for urgent support to fight worsening Desert Locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today the Desert Locust upsurge in the Horn of Africa threatened to provoke a humanitarian crisis and appealed for urgent funding to tackle the outbreak in order to protect livelihoods and food security. More... 30-01-2020
	Overfishing of the world’s major tuna stocks going down, bycatch and pollution reduced and 18 new areas protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems established. A five-year, $50-million Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded program rolled out by FAO and partners has made remarkable progress in protecting international waters' biodiversity by rendering fishing in these waters less harmful to several marine species, including sea turtles and tuna. More... 29-01-2020
	Alarm over Desert Locusts increases as new generation of the destructive pests starts breeding in Horn of Africa. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that rising numbers of Desert Locusts present an extremely alarming and unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa. According to FAO's latest update on the Desert Locust upsurge, the current situation would be further worsened by new breeding that will produce more locust infestations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. More... 29-01-2020
	First comprehensive portal to track international capacity development support for forest monitoring. The Global Forest Observations Initiative (GFOI) today launched a portal - the first such comprehensive platform - to track international capacity development support to developing countries in forest monitoring for climate action. The portal - the GFOI Inventory of Activities - is a one-stop shop with easy-to-access information on more than 400 forest monitoring activities in 70 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. More... 27-01-2020
	FAO teams up with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. FAO will bolster the scale and scope of its geospatial monitoring toolkit thanks to collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that will expand the capacity of FAO's accessible platforms for forestry and land-use assessments. More... 23-01-2020
	Massive, border-spanning campaign needed to combat locust upsurge in East Africa. Desert Locust swarms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia - already unprecedented in their size and destructive potential - could swell exponentially and spill over into more countries in East Africa if efforts to deal with the voracious pest are not massively scaled up across the region, FAO warned today. More... 20-01-2020
	Agriculture ministers meeting in Berlin welcomes the FAO-designed concept for an International Digital Council for Food and Agriculture. FAO Director-General hails agreement to establish the international body to promote digital technologies for sustainable agriculture and food security. More... 18-01-2020
	Putting trade to work for the goal of food security. Trade is a way that countries can tap their own local advantages and close food security gaps, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today. "Every country has a different situation and FAO has to deal with all these differences," he said. Trade is a powerful channel through which the gap can be closed between countries , he added at a FAO-WTO joint high-level panel at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture exploring the theme of "harnessing trade for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2". More... 17-01-2020
	World food prices continue rising in December. World food prices rose for the third consecutive month in December, as a strong rally in vegetable oil prices drove the FAO Food Price Index to its highest level in five years. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 181.7 points during the month, a 2.5 percent increase from November and the highest level since December 2014. More... 09-01-2020