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FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

Shaping food environments and markets

FAO Regional Priority Programme

Agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia are still deeply affected by the process of political and economic transition. The transformation of agrifood production and markets has coincided with the process of globalization and deepening trade integration both within the region and worldwide. With greater participation in global agrifood trade, the region plays an increasingly important role as a supplier of agricultural commodities and food products to international markets.
This Regional Priority Programme, implemented since 2016, consists of three main interrelated components.
Trade Agreements
Market Access
Global Standards
The primary goal of the Regional Priority Programme on "Transforming food systems and facilitating market access and integration" is to support member countries in enhancing the agrifood trade policy environment for small- and medium-sized agricultural enterprises in pursuit of more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. A better trade policy environment for modern agrifood markets requires the development of capacity for trade agreements and domestic, regional and international sanitary and phytosanitary rules. Knowledge of trading partners’ requirements is essential. 

While international trade policy is usually implemented at the border, adherence to food safety, quality standards, and controls for animal and plant diseases requires the support of national systems for disease prevention and control to facilitate the safe transfer and movement of food and agricultural commodities across borders. This means that a supportive policy environment for agrifood trade encompasses not only border policies, but also policies and institutions at national and enterprise levels. Effective markets and efficient, sustainable value chains will help all actors in the production chain play their part in a cohesive food system. 
Featured news
Building awareness of chestnut blight through an online course
07/09/2026

Tajikistan, United Nations advance food systems transformation for better nutrition
05/08/2026

The Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations today convened the Second Joint Steering Committee meeting of the Joint SDG Fund Programme Transforming...

FAO launches online course to strengthen brucellosis control
20/07/2026

Brucellosis remains one of the world's most significant bacterial diseases transmissible from animals to humans, threatening livestock production, rural...

Young pastoralists unite in Kyrgyzstan to shape the future of sustainable rangelands
17/07/2026

In Kyrgyzstan, rangelands are under increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation and growing livestock production. Yet healthy pastures...

From chestnut forests to rural prosperity: A young family is helping transform Tropoja
07/07/2026

What began as an effort to restore an old family house has evolved into one of the best-known agritourism destinations in the Tropoja region. Today,...

Azerbaijan increases preparedness against viral livestock disease
01/07/2026

FAO designed and implemented a foot-and-mouth disease simulation exercise in Ganja, Azerbaijan, on 30 June 2026. Exercise participants included private...

Europe and Central Asia region makes progress on hunger, but healthy diets remain out of reach for nearly 60 million people
30/06/2026

Ukraine joins FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
30/06/2026

Ukraine has deposited its instrument of accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture with the Director-General...

Countries and experts unite to combat forest invasive species across Europe and Central Asia
23/06/2026

Experts, policymakers, researchers and forestry practitioners from across Europe and Central Asia gathered in Kyrgyzstan from 9 to 11 June for the Annual...

Agricultural economics can help build resilience in times of conflict and recovery, FAO says at IAMO Forum 2026
22/06/2026

Agricultural economics has a critical role to play in preventing conflict-related shocks from deepening, said Raimund Jehle, Deputy Regional Representative...

When life (and tax revolts) give you lemons
18/06/2026

The medieval, hilltop town of Sermoneta straddles the bright blue Tyrrhenian Sea in the distance to the west and the Lepini mountain chain of the Apennines,...

Republic of Moldova joins global FAO treaty against illegal and unregulated fishing
15/06/2026

An international treaty to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is now in force in the Republic of Moldova, linking the country to a...

Growing smarter, eating safer
05/06/2026

In western Georgia, where humid conditions and increasingly unpredictable weather create constant pressure from pests and diseases, farmers are learning...

FAO hands over laboratory equipment and ELISA kits to support pandemic preparedness in Tajikistan
05/06/2026

Unlocking aquaculture potential: new FAO project aims to transform Kyrgyzstan’s fish sector
29/05/2026

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry...

Central Asian countries synchronize efforts on developing healthy dietary guidelines
27/05/2026

Proven solutions, practical approaches help advance sustainable food and agriculture in Europe and Central Asia
21/05/2026

Partnership, sustainability, digital innovations, investment and empowering women farmers – these were the core topics of several side and special events...

Uzbekistan promotes sustainable sweet cherry value chain through South-South Cooperation
20/05/2026

The Government of Uzbekistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are scaling up efforts to strengthen the sweet cherry...

Matching grants boost productivity and food safety for over 1 100 women farmers in Georgia
08/05/2026

Georgian women dairy farmers are modernizing traditional milk production with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization...

Private sector representatives gather in Izmir to shape the future of agriculture in the region
08/05/2026

Organized jointly by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Izmir Commodity Exchange (ICE), the FAO Private Sector Dialogue:...

Events

15/9

2026

16/9

2026

Fifth Annual Consultation Meeting: Regional Laboratory Network on Antimicrobial Resistance in food and agriculture
Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), 15/09/2026 - 16/09/2026

In 2026, the Fifth Annual Consultation Meeting of the Regional Laboratory Network on AMR in food and agriculture in EECCA countries will be dedicated to exchanging updated information on initiatives and results of AMR laboratory studies in the food and agriculture sectors in the region; discussing the network’s activities since the last meeting in September 2025; and coordinating and plannin...

30/6

2026

1/7

2026

Coordination Meeting of the One Health Committee under the Coordination Council on Public Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 30/06/2026 - 01/07/2026

The Coordination Meeting of the One Health Committee under the Coordination Council on Public Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic aims to strengthen intersectoral collaboration and define concrete steps for the further institutionalization and implementation of the One Health approach in the country.

23/6

2026

25/6

2026

Offsite Meeting of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Working Group
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 23/06/2026 - 25/06/2026

The offsite meeting of the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Working Group will bring together key national stakeholders and technical experts to advance the d...

Contact

Mary Kenny
Food safety and consumer protection officer
20 Kalman Imre utca
H-1054 Budapest
Hungary
Tel: +36 1 8141-251

See also
Sustainable Development Goals