The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) commissioned the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow to organize the international forum “Food policy, rural development and gender equality in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia: current trends and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”...

In the arid south-western borderlands of Tajikistan stand the ruined mud walls of Kuhdomani bolo. The village was once lush and green, but when the irrigation systems failed, the fields and pastures dried up. Unable to earn from their land, one by one the villagers left. Today, Kuhdomani bolo is abandoned. Yet just...

Following an intense week with a symposium in which 105 scientists participated and a session with 15 Member countries, the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC)adopted for the first time resolutions and recommendations on inland fisheries and aquaculture. These included four resolutions on the Code of Conduct for Recreational...

While food security is a renewed source of concern at the global level, the greening of agrifood systems remains a top priority to limit its impacts on climate change and natural resources. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and FAO released two new reports that explore climate-smart technical solutions...

Food and agriculture lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. This week at the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development, three FAO events shed light on the strong role agriculture and food systems play in realizing the global sustainability goals. The first UN Food Systems Summit will have a long-lasting impact on a global...

The AGROMIX project aims to deliver participatory research to drive the transition to a resilient and efficient land use in Europe. It focuses on practical agroecological solutions for farm and land management and related value chains. AGROMIX Work-Package 2 on Systems design and synergies is at the heart of project....

Setting the basis for developing an integrated whole-of-government National Food Security Strategy in North Macedonia will be the focus of a new FAO project. The project was launched today through an event in Skopje, organized by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy in partnership with the Rural...

FAO and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have been providing support to the Western Balkans region to promote progress on gender equality, with a focus on measuring the proportion of countries where the legal framework guarantees women’s equal rights to land ownership and/or control.

This practice describes the innovative technology that uses halophyte plants to create winter fodders reserves stocks to improve animal feed systems. The Aral-Caspian Depression, with its sharply continental arid climate, faces a severe problem in producing enough food for a rapidly growing local population. The intensive use of water and land...

This practice shows the use of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as a multipurpose salt- and drought-tolerant agricultural food crop. The practice describes how quinoa was used for increasing the food security in marginal conditions in Central Asia.

Social innovations are grassroots processes aiming to achieve impacts beyond an individual level and towards a broader societal good. The environmental dimension of impacts refers to any direct change to the environment resulting from social innovation activities, products, or services, which are not addressed by pre-existing systems. In this paper,...

Honeybee viruses are important threats for honeybee health. However, there are no effective agents to prevent and control honeybee viruses. In association with the proper Varroa management and control, a suitable thermal insulation of the beehive and keeping the beehive dry and insulated can reduce the outbreak and development of...

FAO is deeply concerned about the food security situation in Ukraine. The war that began on 24 February 2022 has caused extensive damage and loss of life in key population centres, spread across rural areas, and sparked massive displacement. It is clear that the war has resulted in a massive,...

For three days, FAO Members from Europe and Central Asia discussed current agricultural issues that are key to transforming the region’s food systems for better nutrition. Ending today, the Forty-Second Session of the European Commission on Agriculture also voted on policy recommendations to improve agrifood production, support rural economies, and advance gender...

Agricultural production systems encompassing crop, forestry, livestock, aquaculture and fisheries production, play an essential role in meeting the increasing demands for food, feed, fibre and fuel. By 2050, food production will have to increase by over 50 percent to meet the projected demands from a growing population, diet shifts, and an...

Reflecting nutritional challenges in Europe and Central Asia, the Forty-Second Session of the European Commission of Agriculture (ECA) is dedicated to transforming food systems to address all forms of malnutrition in the region. Starting tomorrow in a hybrid format, the event also relates to the global FAO theme for 2020–2021 – promoting...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that at least 20 percent of Ukraine’s winter crops – wheat, most notably – may not be harvested or planted. This will further reduce the global food supply, with serious implications for Europe, Central Asia and beyond.  FAO’s revised Rapid...

The Organic Europe’s Youth Event (OEYE), taking place on 31 August-1 September in Frick, Switzerland, is an event for youth interested and active in organic. It will provide a platform to discuss and learn about the potential and challenges of organic production and its role as a sustainable food system.The youth event...

The Organic Farm Knowledge platform (organic-farmknowledge.org) provides access to a wide range of tools and resources about organic farming that can help improve production. We are pleased to share this month’s newsletter with you.

As the only EU event on organic and agroecological research and innovation, TP Organics' Organic Innovation Days provide a unique opportunity to meet members of TP Organics, network with EU stakeholders and decision-makers. The 2022 edition will take place as a physical event on 11-12 October in Belgium (at agricultural...