With more than 40 percent of the workforce working in agriculture and almost half of the population living in rural areas, Albania’s agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economic development. The sector will play a key role in the integration of Albania into the European Union and in achieving...

In recent years, Armenia has gone through severe structural changes that have affected the forest sector. Forests, which were formerly under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, are now the responsibility of the Ministry of Nature Protection, together with areas dedicated to nature conservation. These changes allow for a harmonized...

Family farming shouldn’t be a solitary activity. Rural communities are key for supporting farmers and the development of the rural economy. In Europe and Central Asia, FAO has been supporting different initiatives and projects related to local rural development for more than a decade. Going now a step further, a workshop in Budapest marks...

Mixed cropping, using ‘weed’ crops to attract predators and cultivating resilient local breeds - these are all examples of agroecology in action. Agroecology refers to the application of ecological science and principles to the study, design and management of sustainable agricultural ecosystems.

Today, migratory phenomena are an essential part of political agendas. Little known, their effects on territories of origin and destination have an impact on the socio-economic balance in an already preoccupying climate context.As a major component of population movements, migration from countryside to cities is a strategy to improve household living conditions...

Despite that North Macedonia is a net importer of poultry meat, the country has a long tradition of broiler production. Given the country’s growing demand for high-quality, fresh poultry, North Macedonia could – with the right public–private collaboration, targeted investment and improvements to farmers’ already prodigious skills – increase the supply...

Mixed cropping, using ‘weed’ crops to attract predators and cultivating resilient local breeds - these are all examples of agroecology in action. Agroecology refers to the application of ecological science and principles to the study, design and management of sustainable agricultural ecosystems.

The development of rural areas and livelihoods in an integrated way will be the focus of a new FAO project beginning this week in North Macedonia. The project was launched in an event in Skopje today, organized by FAO and the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE) and...

The members of the Mediterranean network of Local and Solidarity -based Partnerships for Agroecology (MedNet) came up with a Vision during its 2nd meeting, held in Thessaloniki in November 2018. This was the result of an intensive maturation process. Several “Common Training Framework Editing Workshops” were conducted, in different locations. The first workshop,...

For nearly two decades, the EU accession is seen as crucial to a successful domestic transformation in South Eastern Europe (SEE). The EU integration process is of a regional character and cannot be completed without joint efforts and venture among SEE counties. Regional cooperation first requires a focal point to...

Installing solar panels on foresters’ houses and educating children and youth on sustainability and environmental protection – these are two recent ways in which Kyrgyzstan, together with FAO, has set about upscaling its sustainable forest management. Solar panels are gaining popularity as an affordable and clean source of energy, and now,...

Thirty Syrian workers start new jobs today at the Dağcıoğlu Baharat red pepper production factory in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. They were hired by the factory’s owner, Mehmet Dağcı, at the conclusion of a job fair in Kilis in mid-March.The job fair was part of a project implemented by FAO and Turkey’s...

There are an estimated 500 million family farms in the world, representing more than 90 percent of all farms. They are essential to our way of life, producing the bulk of our food and serving as the foundation of agriculture and the rural economy. Family farmers hold the key to...

With only about 2 percent of its total population severely undernourished (7 percent lower than the world average), the Europe and Central Asia region is better off than others with regards to food security. However, other forms of malnutrition are following in the wake: Millions still suffer from micronutrient deficiencies...

Women are key actors and caretakers of household food security, particularly in rural areas of Tajikistan. They are largely responsible for preparing meals, carrying drinking water, rationing food and caring for their children’s health. At the same time, they produce food, manage natural resources and make income to support their...

Upon request from the governments of Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine, FAO has been helping these countries maintain the genetic diversity and sustainable use of local brown cattle breeds suitable for both dairy and meat production. A two-day workshop starting today in Kyiv will provide an update on the process, present a...

Fish from inland rivers and lakes, whether wild or raised through freshwater aquaculture, have the potential to make significant contributions to healthy diets and sustainable food supplies in Europe. This is the main message of two important meetings of FAO’s European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC), being held...

During the SusOrganic project it became obvious that hops and herb producers face several challenges in terms of drying. Especially uneven air distribution inside the dryer, the fan generated airflow and the boiler to heat the drying air have been identified as hotspots regarding product quality and environmental impact. In...

A new report published by a network of  European grassroots civil society organisations calls for a Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and wider policy framework that explicitly favours small-scale sustainable producers and re-localisation of food supply-chains, write Chris Chancellor and Geneviève Savigny.

Despite remarkable developments in the field of food safety in recent decades, the global burden of foodborne diseases is still unacceptably high. An estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food every year, and 420 000 of them die....