News and Press Releases
Great growth potential for maize in Asia as demand soars for animal feed but more emphasis needed to promote maize as a nutritious food for human consumption - FAO
30.10.2014 Bangkok, Thailand
Maize will play an increasingly important role in meeting soaring demand for feed in livestock production, but this nutritious crop also needs further promotion for human consumption to combat under-nutrition in Asia-Pacific, an FAO co-organized conference on maize heard today.
The 12th Asian maize conference and expert consultation on maize for food, feed, nutrition and environment security has attracted some 300 participants from 30 countries worldwide.
Maize is an important...
Thai and Japanese university students meet at “Model UN Conference” in Bangkok to promote food security through improving research and development and reducing food loss and waste
24.10.2014 Bangkok, Thailand
Meiji University of Japan joins hands with Kasetsart University and Srinakarinwirot University in organizing a “Model UN Conference”, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
The purpose of the conference is threefold. First, is to let the students contemplate for themselves issues related to poverty and hunger in the region. Having grown up in affluent societies, students...
Thailand celebrates World Food Day with focus on traditional family and smallholder farming
20.10.2014 Bangkok, Thailand
The Kingdom of Thailand today celebrated its National World Food Day with performances, demonstrations and exhibits honouring the important contribution to food security made by smallholder and family farmers in this major Asian agriculture producing nation.
“More than 80 percent of farmers are smallholder family farmers in the Asia-Pacific region and they produce the majority of foods we eat every day,” said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative during...
World Food Day 2014 Message
Address by the FAO Coordinator for the Pacific, Mr. Gavin Wall
16.10.2014 Salelologa Markets, Savai'i, Samoa
Pastor Joe Amosa,Honourable Minister of AgricultureHonourable Ministers and the Ambassador of Japan who have graced this event with their presenceDistinguished Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for inviting me to speak at this celebration. It is a pleasure for me to be here and to be in Savaii for the opening of the Agriculture & Fisheries Show, MAF Open Day and to commemorate World Food Day.
In recognition of the importance...
Myanmar launches National Zero Hunger Challenge on World Food Day 2014
16.10.2014 Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
The United Nations and Myanmar’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MoAI), with the support by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), have marked this year’s World Food Day with the launch of a major initiative to eradicate hunger.
The National Zero Hunger Challenge (NZHC) was launched today in the nation’s capital by Myanmar’s Vice-President U Nyan Tun. The event was attended by Government Ministers and deputy ministers,...
Asia and the Pacific region celebrates World Food Day with a focus on small holder and family farmers towards the eradication of hunger
15.10.2014 Bangkok, Thailand
This year’s World Food Day (16 October) is celebrated across Asia and the Pacific with increasing optimism that the region could achieve the Millennium Development Goal on reducing hunger by 2015.
This was among the key messages delivered on the eve of World Food Day at a regional event in Bangkok to mark WFD 2014, convened by the Asia-Pacific regional office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations...
Rice along with root crops is now a staple food for all Fijians, with an annual per capita consumption of 75 kg. Fijis heavy reliance on imported rice is estimated at FJD 40 million (US$ 21.14 million) annually for approximately 50,000 tonnes of rice.
Rice has been cultivated for many decades in Fiji with mixed results. During the early eighties, two thirds of the national demand for rice was fulfilled by...
FAO is investing over US$350,000 into a two year technical assistance project to improve agriculture sector information and statistics for Samoa. Working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS), the project will assist in the development of sustainable capacity for the analysis of agriculture sector trends.
"By building the capacity of MAF and SBS in this area, it can inform and improve evidence-based...
Thailand heading toward regaining position as top world rice exporter by 2015
Global rice production in 2014 could drop for first time in five years but reserves remain ample
14.10.2014 Bangkok, Thailand
This year could be the first year in five years that global rice production has declined after years of record harvests, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported in its October issue of the Rice Market Monitor.
Crop prospects have deteriorated in the past few months, reflecting erratic weather conditions across many regions. These, together with an El Niño weather anomaly possibly arising soon, have marred the...
Media invitation to cover World Food Day event in Bangkok – 15 October
Awards to ‘Model Farmers’ from China, India, Myanmar, New Zealand and Thailand
13.10.2014 Bangkok, Thailand
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand will preside over the 34th Regional World Food Day (WFD) celebration at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok on Wednesday 15th October beginning at 9am.
The ceremony will be attended by H.E. Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives and other officials of the Royal Thai...