In this article the author attempts to give an idea of the today’s progress in formation of agricultural cooperatives in the five countries of Central Asia. The study has shown that agriculture of the countries under consideration is dominated by small agricultural producers. However, the lack of market infrastructure does...

With the new international target of 2030 for eliminating human hunger on Earth, three organizations in Hungary have come together to promote effective solutions to malnutrition and food insecurity. Once again this year, the Hungarian Foodbank Associationhas partnered with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to produce today’s food truck...

The International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today signed a new strategic partnership aimed at strengthening the livelihoods of rural communities in the Mediterranean region.   The two organizations will work together to advance solutions on issues in the region related...

The national food security and nutrition programme just adopted by Kyrgyzstan is expected to serve as a road map to fulfilling people’s rights to food, healthy nutrition and development. The programme, which springs from the country’s National Sustainable Development Strategy, was developed over the last two years by Kyrgyzstan with substantial...

During the transition process in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, relationship along the whole food chain- from farm suppliers to retailers – have broken down. The result has been disruptions in supply and inferior-quality food products.

At least nine countries in the region stand united on the need to restore limited soil resources and stop alarming soil degradation trends. The “Izmir Communique’” and a related draft five-year implementation plan for the Eurasia region were adopted at the Second Plenary Meeting of the Eurasian Soil Partnership earlier...

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine teamed up with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to produce a year-long series of stories and photos about food in 2014. Starting next week, Budapest will be host to an exhibition of photos and graphics from ‘ ‘The Future of FOOD’ looks at food from...

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...

Many innovations led by women are based on agroecological principles such as increasing diversity, using fewer pesticides, or building new relationships with consumers. Through small experiments women learn, get organised and strengthen their autonomy. They gain increasing recognition and visibility in their communities and increase their self-esteem. This positive spiral...

An international film festival in the Slovak Republic bucks that stereotype, bringing agricultural production into cinemas and making it understandable and entertaining for everyone. Now in its 31st year, Agrofilm provides an opportunity to see feature films, documentaries and short videos on agriculture, rural development and nutrition topics. Audiences gain insights...

Les travaux sur l’Agriculture familiale sont nombreux. Un certain nombre d’entre eux se sont intéressés aux pays méditerranéens. Dès 1984 en effet le Réseau Agricultures Familiales Comparées (Rafac) était créé à Montpellier, à l’Institut Agronomique Méditerranéen, du Centre International des Hautes Etudes Méditerranéennes1.Les publications du Rafac sur l’agriculture familiale furent...

Kazakhstan has a new law on organic agriculture, in line with the country’s recently acquired membership in the World Trade Organization. The law, signed by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev in late November, outlines the institutional and regulatory framework for organic food production. Organic production is a development priority for Kazakhstan –...

The four Central Asian countries mentioned are heavily agrarian societies and have a low income per capita, except for Turkmenistan due to its large oil and gas revenues. The region is characterised by mountainous terrain and dry areas. The climate is continental, with cold winters and dry, hot summers. There...

Farmers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia are constantly innovating, adapting their farming techniques to cope with unfavourable weather or environmental conditions. But their efforts are far from systematic, and there is little government support for what they do. A discussion at the 39th session of the European Commission on Agriculture,...

Globalization and increased regional trade among countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States has meant a shift – from foods produced and consumed locally to greater food diversity and more foods traded internationally. As a result, countries are eager to increase their knowledge of international food safety standards and procedures. To...

With a relatively new history of membership at the Eurasian Economic Union, Kyrgyzstan believes that joining the Russia-backed economic club has garnered confidence in the nation’s economic stability. Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, who is the primary supporter of his country's accession to union, believes that Kyrgyzstan's EEU membership will take the...

The aim of the Ministry of Agriculture with the conference is to present the current situation of family farms internationally and in the Carpathian-basin, and to seek appropriate tools and methods which could successfully support family farms.

Loin de renvoyer uniquement à des espaces marginalisés, les territoires ruraux des pays du sud de la Méditerranée sont le théâtre d’initiatives et d’innovations aux formes multiples qui contribuent à dynamiser les économies nationales, et en particulier le secteur agricole. Dans cette perspective, l’amélioration des politiques publiques qui accompagnent ces...

More than 55 percent of adults in Europe and Central Asia are overweight or obese. Millions are anaemic, or suffer from iodine, zinc and Vitamin A deficiencies. In children, malnourishment persists at alarming rates in many countries, leading to stunted growth and other problems. An FAO paper published in advance of...

Traditional fisheries involving fishing households (as opposed to commercial companies), using relatively small amount of capital and energy, relatively small fishing vessels (if any), making short fishing trips, close to shore, mainly for local consumption. In practice, definition varies between countries, e.g. from gleaning or a one-man canoe in poor...