Expect the unexpected – FAO guidance on emergency response preparedness

13/08/2026

Natural hazards are unavoidable. The way we mitigate and manage them is within our control – and preparedness is the first line of defence.

The Europe and Central Asia region is vulnerable to several types of natural hazards, including floods, storms, droughts, wildfires and landslides. Due to the effects of climate change, climate-related hazards in particular have increased in frequency and intensity over the past few decades.

The agriculture sector and food security are heavily impacted by these phenomena. FAO estimates that the agriculture sector absorbs more than 26 percent of total economic costs from climate-related disasters.

National governments have a responsibility to act when – and before – disasters occur. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released the publication Guidelines on emergency response preparedness in agriculture in Europe and Central Asia, providing a comprehensive and practical framework to support governments and partners in strengthening disaster preparedness for effective emergency response in the agriculture sector.

Why is preparedness non-negotiable?

Preparedness measures not only lessen the time and money spent on disaster response, but also reduce agricultural damage and loss. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), every USD 1 invested in disaster risk reduction can save up to USD 15 in post-disaster recovery – investing in preparedness, therefore, literally pays off.

“Consisting of two parts, the guidelines cover measures related to each agricultural subsector regarding the impacts of various hazards, such as droughts, heatwaves, hurricanes, floods, forest fires, plant and animal pests and diseases, and include specific case studies that focus on the Europe and Central Asia region,” explains Daniela Mangione, FAO Field Programme Officer and Resilience Focal Point at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, who provided technical guidance for the publication. “Smallholder farmers are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of disasters and hazards, as their lives and livelihoods are largely dependent on the agricultural sector. By investing in risk reduction, which includes increasing preparedness for response, countries contribute to building more sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems, better equipped to handle future shocks and stresses.”

Ten preparedness actions

Part I of the publication outlines ten core preparedness actions for effective emergency response in agriculture and related livelihoods, adapted from UNDRR’s “Words into Action” framework. This section clearly explains what disaster risk assessments are and how they identify hazards, exposure, vulnerabilities specific to the agricultural subsectors (crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture), and coping capacities.

The guidelines emphasize the importance of inclusive, well-structured coordination among ministries, local authorities, and international bodies given the transboundary nature of many agricultural threats. While farmers are usually aware of plant and animal pests and diseases in their surroundings, they are often unprepared for sudden outbreaks, which can lead to severe damage and losses to their crops and livestock. A pest or disease that begins to spread across borders, particularly on a large scale, can cause outbreaks or pandemics as farmers may be unprepared for and unaware of the biological threats to life and ecosystems.

Needs assessments, operational and human capacity assessments help identify resource gaps at the individual and organizational levels and within the enabling environment. Contingency planning is a crucial component of overall preparedness – it encompasses operational plans that define the roles of key organizations, scenarios, and response protocols, which must be tested via simulation exercises and regularly updated.

In recent years, FAO has addressed disaster risk reduction in a number of areas in Europe and Central Asia, including strengthening Europe’s capacity to respond to peste des petits ruminants (PPR) through virtual trainings, coordinating sustainable locust management in the Caucasus and Central Asia with partners, and providing direct support to countries in emergencies, such as the Republic of Moldova, where the agriculture sector and smallholder farmers struggled with the effects of the 2022 drought. 

These actions align with the publication’s emphasis on planning for external assistance and funding, education and awareness raising, strong communication, and collaboration across sectors and at all levels among local, subnational, national and international stakeholders.

Getting practical: preparedness across agricultural subsectors

Part II of the publication applies the preparedness actions to ten specific agricultural subsectors and thematic areas, each accompanied by a preparedness checklist. These subsectors and areas include: animal health emergencies, plant pest and disease emergencies, locust preparedness, forest health, emergencies affecting livestock, preparedness in fisheries and aquaculture, preparedness for wildfires, seed emergencies, food safety emergencies and the One Health approach.

“The Guidelines on emergency response preparedness in agriculture in Europe and Central Asia cover threats such as avian influenza or African swine fever – both transboundary animal diseases – as well as plant pests and diseases, like wheat rust and invasive insects, biosecurity approaches and food safety emergencies,” says Tamara van ‘t Wout, FAO disaster risk reduction specialist. “It provides a practical framework for detecting and adequately preparing to effectively respond to emergencies, which can have a great impact on the economy, water and food security.”

The checklists for each subsector present ministries and technical officers with step-by-step preparedness actions from assessing disaster risks to evaluating needs and operational and human capacities, strengthening risk-informed planning and decision-making, and promoting the integration of preparedness into national policy, legal and institutional frameworks.

Bringing together core preparedness action principles for responding to emergencies in the agriculture sector and dedicated action plans for subsectors, the guidelines address complex problems with tailor-made solutions in a region that continues to experience hazards amid climate change and a growing energy crisis.