FAO.org

The Government of Bhutan, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships, and the FAO Investment Centre participated at an InfoPoint event dedicated to discussing the state of play in Bhutan's food system.  

During this event, the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, H. E. Dr Yeshey Penjor, presented the government's plan to move from subsistence to market-driven agriculture to help tackle its food system challenges, particularly the sharp rise in food imports needed to feed a growing urban population.  

While keeping its firm commitment to the environment and preserve its status as a green champion, Bhutan is looking to promote Brand Bhutan through the development of high-value niche agrifood products for the export market. To catalyze the transformation towards sustainability and building on the country’s food systems assessment carried out by the EU, FAO and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) in 2021-22; Bhutan has entered the second phase of a partnership between the European Union, FAO and the association of European Universities and research centres, Agrinatura. 

 "Bhutan is leading the way and we are learning," said Mohamed Manssouri, Director of FAO's Investment Centre. "We want to support policies and investments that would lead to a greener agrifood system while creating more jobs for young people in Bhutan.” 

You can watch the recording of the event here.