Valencia sees many new opportunities after site is added to FAO’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

10 December 2019, Madrid – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and the Mayor of Valencia Joan Ribó discussed how the recent addition of the Horta of Valencia to FAO’s list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) can help showcase the multidimensional aspects of agricultural and rural development.

These, the FAO Director-General and the Mayor agreed, include the importance of partnering with the private sector and promoting sustainable food systems. The Horta features crop diversification, with a number of local varieties and the division of the land into small plots so as to make the site resilient.

Valencia is also home to the World Sustainable Urban Food Centre (CEMAS), which is an initiative of the city with technical support from FAO, to strengthen, advise and coordinate cities around the world in management and exchange of knowledge on sustainable local food systems. 

The centre, inaugurated in July, will also carry out dissemination and public awareness activities on issues related to food, nutrition, the fight against hunger, climate change and food systems.