For centuries, camels were indispensable for the people of Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous and landlocked country in Central Asia, where they once carried yurts and belongings for nomadic families traversing the highlands. They also gave them milk, meat, and wool. “The camel can lift the heaviest load” is still a popular saying here, even though most Kyrgyz are sedentary today, with other sources of income. And even the few who still move their livestock to highland pastures in summer, use pickup trucks to get around. As a result, only 260 camels are left today – of some 12 000 that dwelled the Kyrgyz plains around the 1950s. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released a flagship report entitled The state of food systems in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) region, offering a detailed analysis of agrifood systems across the Black Sea region, highlighting key trends, challenges and opportunities in 12 countries. The publication was produced under the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Regional Cooperation Centre for Sustainable Food Systems project, which was launched in December 2020 through the FAO–Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture.  

Access to diverse, nutritious, affordable and safe food is what we all need for an active and healthy life. This, coupled with intersectoral collaboration and the attributes of a balanced diet, were underscored at today’s joint World Food Day event of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Hungarian Food Bank Association, and the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary in Budapest. The highlights of the event were the arrival of 30 000 kilos of food donations, delivered by a convoy of trucks, and the preparation and sharing of sustainable and affordable dishes from famous Hungarian chefs.

The role of women in agriculture and rural livelihoods and the opportunities for their economic participation, financial inclusion, and contribution to climate resilience is the central theme of a roundtable discussion that will take place today in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event is part of the project “Women driving resilience in agriculture and rural areas,” implemented by UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with support from Sweden. The roundtable discussion is scheduled for 15 October, the International Day of Rural Women for which this year’s theme is the role of rural women in conserving and protecting nature for our collective future.

The week of 7–11 October has been all about the European fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Pula, Croatia with the international symposium, "Building a sustainable future for inland fisheries and aquaculture in a time of multiple stressors" and the 32nd Session of the European Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Advisory Commission (EIFAAC), held in back-to-back succession. The events brought together 120 policy makers and scientists who looked at the status and trends in European inland fisheries, potential for aquaculture growth, and the sectors’ sustainable future in a time of multiple stressors.

For nearly 120 years, farmers in the northeastern region of modern-day Croatia have been making and enjoying artisanal dried sausage from high-quality local pork. Traditionally eaten on special occasions and often included in holiday gift baskets, Baranjski kulen (Croatian for a delicatessen sausage from the Baranja region) is now gaining popularity as an international delicacy. That's in no small part thanks to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) who worked with the Croatian government to help Baranjski kulen gain its Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Union (EU) over 10 years ago.

Solving global food and agriculture challenges can start with an act as simple as looking to nature. Imitating nature’s processes and ecosystems can help solve global challenges via local approaches that minimize environmental impact. “Frugal innovation” is the development of sustainable and affordable solutions that maximize value while preserving natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems. The concept was front and centre during a 3 October hybrid event that aimed to advance sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia. It is crucial for empowering smallholders, women, youth and rural communities to create locally relevant solutions that strengthen the resilience and inclusivity of agrifood systems.

The global appetite for livestock products is increasing rapidly, amplifying the already significant impact livestock systems have on the environment. But what if farm animals could be of help in a changing climate? The French movie “Shepherding Hope” that received the recognition of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at the 40th International Agrofilm Festival today, is trying to answer this question.

Having marked the fifth International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste on 29 September 2024, experts and observers reaffirmed that only a coordinated response can overcome the significant challenge this issue presents to achieving sustainable agrifood systems. For over a decade, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has led efforts to reduce food loss and waste because of its crucial role in transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania, held an important meeting to address the challenges faced by the country’s agricultural cooperatives and farmer associations. The event took place within the framework of the FAO project “Support for the amendment of the existing law on organizations of agricultural cooperation,” assisting to provide technical assistance for the final revision of the law and for the necessary institutional capacities building to ensure sustainability of the project’s objectives. Participants represented the line Ministry, FAO and various cooperative and agribusiness associations.