Key elements of FAO’s work in Europe and Central Asia – combating land and soil degradation, addressing the needs of family farms, boosting nutrition through agriculture, and studying rural people’s access to social protection schemes – were affirmed by the Organization’s members this week. The 39th session of the European Commission on Agriculture concluded its biennial session today in Budapest.

The Commission recommended that FAO strengthen its technical support to member countries – in close coordination with civil society organizations and the private sector – for halting and reversing land degradation. The focus should be on restoring degraded soils – in line with the global Sustainable Development Goals expected to be adopted later this month.