Europe and Central Asia Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2024
Managing water sustainably for improved food security and nutrition
This report provides the latest updates on hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in Europe and Central Asia, including the cost and affordability of healthy diets. It also explores the central theme of water security, highlighting its critical connections to agriculture, food security and nutrition. While the region has made progress in reducing hunger and food insecurity (SDG Target 2.1), challenges remain in eliminating all forms of malnutrition (SDG Target 2.2).
Collections
- Country gender assessment series
- Digital agriculture
- Disaster risk reduction and management publication series
- Empowering smallholders and family farms series
- Transboundary animal diseases - Leaflets
Multimedia resources
Publications
Digital environment to support official food safety control during inspections
01/2024
The paper discusses the transition of the Public Health Agency of Barcelona from paper-based inspection procedures to a digital-based system for food safety control procedures. The digital inspection tool allows for the systematic collection of non-compliances, information about official samples taken for laboratory analysis, and the attachment of pictures to inspection reports.
Strengthening meat production food safety teaching through a Virtual Slaughterhouse Simulator (VSS)
01/2024
This document was developed within the framework of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and University of Helsinki collaboration on “Call for collecting good practices in improving food safety management”, launched in June 2022. This call aimed to empower organizations to showcase innovative solutions and good practices to improve specific aspects of food safety management in Europe and Central Asia.
Biodiversity in Action – #4
10/2024
Soil and water are essential for the proper functioning of agricultural ecosystems. As the source of nearly all our calories, soil health is intrinsically linked to food security. This brochure elucidates the connection between soil biodiversity and food security, explores the threats that agrifood systems pose to soil biodiversity, and highlights policy actions undertaken at a global level to address these challenges.
Science–policy interface in action #2
09/2024
Recognizing the critical role of evidence-based decision-making in addressing food insecurity, malnutrition, and rural poverty, the brochure provides a practical framework for countries to establish or enhance their Science-Policy Interface (SPI) capacity in developing context-specific and systemic solutions for agrifood systems.
Scaling up green agriculture in Europe and Central Asia
05/2024
Discover the transformative potential of Green agriculture with the FAO Regional project on Scaling up Green Agriculture in Europe and Central Asia. This brochure unveils actionable insights, innovative and practical solutions, and collaborative initiatives aimed at reshaping agricultural practices for environmental stewardship and resilience.
Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) for ecosystem restoration, improved natural resource management and increased resilience
02/2024
The Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) share ecologically important river and wetland systems, extensive grasslands, semi-deserts, and high mountain ranges which support some of the most unique species and habitats on earth. These ecosystems also provide essential services to people, including water, food and livelihoods, and are critical for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
AgriTech Observatory
02/2024
The AgriTech Observatory is a virtual space that guides users through the realm of digital agriculture initiatives across Europe and Central Asia. This space can be used by practitioners, innovators, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to explore agritech solutions, good practices, policies, projects, and resources.
Strengthening Capacity in Price and Market Information Systems and Policy Monitoring in Response to COVID-19 and Other Shocks
06/2024
Agricultural price and market information systems (MIS) can play an important role in promoting agricultural development, especially for smallholders and food producers. Sound market information can help to enhance transparency, competitiveness and a more equitable sharing of benefits among key players in marketing systems and promote sustainable food value chain (VC) development.
FAO alerts European countries to enhance preparedness for combating peste des petits ruminants
12/2024
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of both domestic and wild small ruminants with a mortality and morbidity of up to 90 percent. Peste des petits ruminants has a significant annual economic impact ranging from USD 1.4 billion to USD 1.2 billion. This document highlights FAOs recommendations to curtail the already ongoing outbreak in European Union member countries.
Improving food security and nutrition through cash+ in Kyrgyzstan
10/2024
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked, lower-middle-income country in Central Asia with a population of 7 million. Between 2012 and 2019 the level of poverty declined significantly, but poverty rates in rural areas remained higher than in urban areas, with healthy diets unaffordable for 48 percent of the rural population and a stunting prevalence of 11.8 percent in 2018.
Forest products annual market review 2023-2024
09/2024
The Forest Products Annual Market Review is meant to help stakeholders navigate the complex interactions of economic policies, market trends and environmental concerns that shape today’s global forestry sector. This year’s Review explores how policy frameworks affect market dynamics, drive sustainability efforts, and promote responsible investment.
Antimicrobial use practices in the livestock sector in Serbia
10/2024
The Understanding Antimicrobial Use in Food and Agriculture series is a compilation of country reports, each describing antimicrobial use (AMU) practices and awareness of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the livestock sector. This issue of the series summarizes the results of interviews performed in Serbia between June and October 2022.
Antimicrobial use practices in the livestock sector in Albania
11/2024
The Understanding Antimicrobial Use in Food and Agriculture series is a compilation of country reports, each describing antimicrobial use practices and awareness of antimicrobial resistance in the livestock sector. This issue of the series summarizes the results of interviews performed in Albania between June and November 2022.
Building resilience in urban food logistics systems
11/2024
This report explores the transformative impact of recent global disruptions on urban food logistics. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, it addresses critical challenges such as supply chain resilience, evolving consumer demand, and the need for sustainable infrastructure. It also presents best practices and trends in municipal investments and regulatory measures, aimed at enhancing food security in urban areas.
Digital Villages in Action: Europe and Central Asia
05/2023
The flyer details the activities that are ongoing as part of the digital Villages initiative in REU. Digital Villages enhance rural resilience and food security by providing farmers with digital tools for accessing inputs, market information, and alternative sales channels online. They deliver real-time data on prices, weather, and pests, enabling informed decisions on crop management and purchasing.
FAO’s role in humanitarian mine action
11/2024
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) applies its technical expertise in humanitarian mine action to restore agricultural lands and enhance food security. By prioritizing demining efforts based on agricultural needs and mitigating soil contamination, FAO promotes sustainable recovery in affected areas. This document outlines FAO’s role in humanitarian mine action and its strategic approach to integrating agricultural recovery within mine action efforts.
Strengthening the status of the spouse and partner in Albania’s agricultural businesses
11/2024
In Albania, despite many positive policies and legal developments regarding gender equality, the ownership and management of agricultural businesses remain heavily male-dominated. This policy paper examines the experiences of three European Union countries – Belgium, France and Spain – to showcase good practices for enhancing the role and status of spouses and partners in agricultural businesses.
Gender-responsive value chain analysis in Albania: Case studies of Elbasan, Leskovik and Puka
10/2024
This publication employs FAO's gender-responsive value chain approach to analyze three case studies from Elbasan, Puka, and Leskovik. It highlights the opportunities for strengthening the role of women producers and processors in value chains and identifies key barriers that hinder women's full participation.
The state of food systems in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization region
09/2024
Food systems in the member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) are changing quickly as economies grow, diets become less traditional and policies shift. This report seeks to provide an overview of key tendencies across diverse food systems in the region over the last decade.
Europe and Central Asia Gender Newsletter, July 2024 – Issue #15
08/2024
This edition of FAO Europe and Central Asia Gender Newsletter highlights the pivotal findings of FAO’s new report on women-responsive rural advisory services, critical updates on the revised Country Gender Assessment for Tajikistan, the story of a leading woman beekeeper from Uzbekistan, and the progress on climate resilient economic empowerment for women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.