Locust species that produce large swarms and travel long distances can damage agricultural production if outbreaks are not contained through timely, well-coordinated action. As locust infestations continue to threaten crops, rangelands and rural livelihoods across the Caucasus and Central Asia, countries are strengthening their cooperation to improve early warning and support efficient and environmentally responsible control measures.

Albania has launched the Agrifood Systems Dialogue Platform to guide policy reform and investment in the country’s agrifood sector through evidence-based dialogue and multistakeholder collaboration. Developed with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the platform aims to support more coordinated, transparent and strategic decision-making as Albania advances its agrifood system transformation and European Union integration process.

Access to adequate food is a fundamental human right recognized under international law. In Europe and Central Asia, realizing the right to food is increasingly critical – not only to addressing hunger but also to ensuring access to adequate, nutritious and diversified diets while responding to growing diet-related health challenges and supporting sustainable food systems. 

Until now, most fish farms in Georgia have relied on paper notebooks to record data on feedings, health treatments and production. This resource-intensive approach limits disease prevention, slows decision-making and makes traceability difficult. That, however, is about to change. Georgia is preparing to integrate its aquacultural sector into the National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS) and the linked Farm Management System (FMS), a move aimed at modernizing fish health management, strengthening food safety and supporting access to international markets.

Senior leaders of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded a high-level visit to the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture on 12 February 2026, emphasizing a shared commitment to scaling up science-based and innovative solutions to address food insecurity, malnutrition and sustainability challenges across regions. FAO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) work together to assist Members in using nuclear and related technologies safely and appropriately.

After five years of coordinated work, the agricultural sector in Serbia is better prepared to face future climate risks. Through the project Strengthening Disaster Resilience in Agriculture, funded by the European Union and implemented from March 2021 to January 2026, climate resilience has been systematically embedded across agricultural policies, institutions and farming practices, strengthening the sector from national strategy to the field.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) operates in six official languages, enabling the dissemination of technical knowledge and guidance to diverse audiences worldwide. This multilingual approach supports capacity development, facilitates effective communication and strengthens partnerships among stakeholders. In Europe and Central Asia, Russian remains a key working language for many veterinary professionals, paraprofessionals and livestock producers. Ensuring access to technical training in the Russian language is therefore essential to strengthening animal health systems throughout the region.

The Central Asian and Caucasus Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CACFish), established under the FAO Constitution, serves as a regional intergovernmental platform promoting responsible fisheries and aquaculture development in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Through dialogue, capacity development and technical cooperation, the Commission supports Member countries in improving governance, sustainability and resilience in the sector, while also cooperating with non-member countries in the region.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with national partners, has launched the second edition of the  national gender profile of agriculture and rural livelihoods in Uzbekistan, providing updated analysis and actionable recommendations to inform gender-responsive agricultural policies and programmes and support more inclusive and effective agrifood systems.

Despite growing up in Kakheti, a well-known wine region and the agricultural heart of Georgia, Sophio Khutitdze saw herself as a doctor. She was always drawn to the sciences with chemistry and biology being her favourite classes in high school. She even applied to medical school and took the national exam, but she slowly started to realize that medicine wasn’t for her.