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....

Small-scale family farms are the backbone of food production worldwide. Together, they are the main or sole providers of diverse and nutritious food for 70% of the world’s population. However, the livelihoods of these small-scale producers are increasingly being threatened by the development of our globalised industrial food system. The...

Experts in agricultural trade from 12 post-Soviet countries gather alongside state representatives beginning today in Chisinau for the fifth annual meeting of the Agricultural Trade Expert Network in Europe and Central Asia, or ATEN in short. Over the two-day meeting, participants will exchange information about agricultural trade policy developments in their...

Ukraine has productive and healthy soil, called chernozem, that is rich in organic matter. However, leading Ukrainian soil scientists estimate that water erosion affects 13.4 million ha, including 10.6 million ha of arable land. Erosion directly impacts soil fertility and agricultural production, which can lead to significant economic losses of...

Climate change has become an issue of national security and survival for many countries, as it further exacerbates the fragility of natural resources through the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Climate change also affects food production and value chains and causes considerable damage and production losses in the...

How to combat depopulation and make rural areas vibrant again? This was the question addressed during the ENRD Workshop on May 21, 2019. The event explored the role of Rural Development Programmes and other EU policies in maintaining a high quality of life in these regions, where demographic trends are...

In Tajikistan, irrigation water is the bottleneck of crop production. And with water scarcity on the rise due to climate change-induced weather extremes, the situation is getting even worse, particularly in rural areas. At this time of year, with the long dry periods and high temperatures of spring and summer to...

A quick look at the collection of examples of social innovation in the SIMRA database makes you realise that food is a central element in most of them. Food production is traditionally connected to rural areas shaping landscapes, diets, and even cultural heritage (local cuisines, traditions, etc.).

By supporting local traditions to build better livelihoods and empower communities, FAO and its partners are working toward a world free of poverty and hunger.  

FAO assesses that globally 41 countries, of which 31 are in Africa, continue to be in need of external assistance for food. Conflict remains the main driver of high levels of severe food insecurity. Weather‑induced production declines and economic instability have also adversely impacted on food availability and access.