With the world’s population larger than ever, and still growing rapidly, more nutritious foods need to be produced worldwide, while also minimising the impact on the environment. The food produced for us moves along a complex value chain to reach the mouths of consumers, while providing livelihoods for many millions along the way.

Many foods and agricultural products are native to a large number of countries around the world, but in most nations there is at least one product, in particular, that stands out and can receive a higher level of visibility.

Just two examples from the Asia-Pacific region are taro root vegetables from the Cook Islands and Chilgoza Pine Nuts from Pakistan. But there are dozens of other examples in this region.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is prioritising support for countries worldwide to develop their special agricultural products through its One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative.

As part of this awareness-raising drive, 22 countries from the Asia and Pacific region are gathering in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 19 to 20 July to exchange knowledge regarding their OCOP priority products, and to discuss their sustainable development projects for further promotion and consumption – both for domestic and foreign markets.  

“Ultimately, OCOP is about more than promoting an agricultural product. FAO’s role in this is to help Member Nations achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all – leaving no one behind – to achieve the 2030 SDG agenda,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, during the opening of today’s event. “OCOP can help achieve that, by introducing nutritious foods that can be consumed much more widely, at home and abroad.”