FAO concluded a virtual meeting to address pertinent food and agriculture issues of Europe and Central Asia, against a background of the new FAO Strategic Framework, and the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The 39 FAO Member Nations were joined by the European Union, civil society, farmers’ organizations, and the private sector.

The four-day Informal Consultation for Europe and Central Asia, traditionally hosted by Hungary, completed its work with a clear consensus among participants: the region’s food system needs to achieve further resilience and sustainability to help countries meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

During a session on family farms, constraints and potential solutions were presented, followed by an open discussion of government and farmer-association representatives that gave further impetus to FAO’s future work on empowering smallholders, rural women and youth, through targeted programmes and support.