An impactful knowledge-exchange mission in November 2024 united Tunisia...

BEIRUT – Nealy a third of Lebanon’s population is facing acute food insecurity following the escalation of conflict in late 2024 and the impact of hostilities on agriculture and the economy mean recovery is likely to be slow, according to a

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) has emerged as a significant Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) in recent years. Initially confined to sub-Saharan Africa, its rapid spread since the 1990s has reached the Middle East, Europe, the Balkans, Russia, and more recently parts of Asia. 

Four months after famine was first confirmed in Zamzam camp in Sudan’s North Darfur state, more areas in North Darfur and the Western Nuba mountains have been identified as experiencing famine conditions, as access to food and nutrition for millions of people across the country continues to deteriorate, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO,) World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today.

Conflict has brought Gaza’s once thriving fishing sector to the brink of collapse, but the situation could still be reversed if peace is restored and fishers are granted safe access to fishing waters, along with the resumption of imports of essential fish production inputs and tools, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said today.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), hosted a joint event during the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) entitled ‘Regional Water Scarcity Initiative Programme: Enhancing Knowledge Across Sectors by Bridging the Data Gap’.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), proudly hosted the third edition of the E-Learning course on Trade and Food Security, conducted entirely in Arabic. 

Hunger in the Arab region worsened amid deepening crises in 2023, according to a UN report launched today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

16-18 December 2024, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) hosted the 1st International Forum for Saudi Reef in Al Ahsa from December 16-18, 2024, aimed to discuss the role of sustainable rural agricultural development programmes in empowering rural communities and strengthening their role in food security and rural communities livelihoods. 

In support of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) regional office for Near East and North Africa (NENA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regional office for West Asia convened a regional high-level meeting on 13 November 2024,

At the NENA Youth Breakfast, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), youth leaders from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region gathered to amplify their voices in addressing agrifood system challenges, land degradation, and climate-related issues. Held during the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), the gathering highlighted the critical role of youth as drivers of change in shaping resilient and sustainable food systems. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq and the Iraqi Ministries of Agriculture and Health held two meetings dedicated to discussing updating animal health legislation to be in line with international reference standards, as well as to address legislative overlaps between the Public Health Law and the Animal Health Law.

As part of efforts to promote sustainable environmental initiatives, the Sultanate of Oman hosted a team of experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) specializing in forests, wetlands and climate change. The visit included field tours to several mangrove forest sites across Oman, where the current ecological conditions of these vital ecosystems were assessed, and scientific expertise was exchanged.

The COP16 Pavilion in the Blue Zone hosted a critical panel discussion on “Strengthening soil health and climate resilience: sustainable forest and land management in Sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia.” The event, jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), brought together leading experts and policymakers to address the region’s escalating challenges of land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate impacts. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region today. This comprehensive roadmap addresses the pressing soil challenges that threaten agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental resilience.

FAO joined the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and humanitarian partners in calling for unrestricted and safe access to deliver at-scale emergency agricultural aid to prevent the spread of famine and further loss of lives. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol spoke today at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to enhance humanitarian response in Gaza.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) continues to provide emergency relief combined with development and peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected countries in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

A high-level delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), led by Mr. Anping Ye, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST), concluded an official visit to Oman aimed at enhancing collaboration in the apiculture sector and exploring opportunities for agricultural innovation.

The 2024 United Nations Desertification Conference (COP16) hosted by the Government of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh is a landmark event aims at renewing global commitments to restoring agricultural land, which is essential for transforming agrifood systems to benefit both people and the planet.