News and Press Releases
FAO project supports FAD programme in Palau
01.12.2020 Koror, Palau
FAO supports recent efforts in Palau to ensure the nation has a strong and sustainable fish aggregating device (FAD) programme. Through the FishFAD project these efforts build on Palau’s longstanding experience in FAD deployments and training in FAD fishing, which were often led by master fishermen with the Pacific Community Nearshore Fisheries Development Section. Over time, the programme has contracted with other organizations and projects, such as FishFAD, to assist...
Experts highlight the importance of applying digital solutions and big data to drive agriculture and empower smallholders in a post COVID-19 world
30.11.2020 Bangkok
Innovative digital technologies will drive agricultural outputs, fuel improvements to food quality and safety, and reach new heights of profitability in the foreseeable future, according to experts speaking at a joint UN forum in Asia and the Pacific on digital agricultural solutions.
The experts, gathered from around the world, have shared experiences on technologies that are driving agriculture innovations during the Digital Agriculture Solutions Forum 2020, a bi-annual event for Asia...
In Papua New Guinea, partnerships with local private sector promote more inclusive and sustainable cocoa production
The European Union, FAO and Paradise Foods Ltd aim to improve opportunities for smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector
26.11.2020 Port Moresby/Rome
As part of efforts to support smallholder farmers and create more inclusive agri-food value chains in Papua New Guinea, FAO implementing the European Union co-funded STREIT programme, has engaged the local private sector, partnering with Paradise Foods Ltd., the country's oldest national food manufacturing company.The new Memorandum of Understanding agreement signed today aims to promote more inclusive and sustainable cocoa production value chains and create income generation opportunities for smallholder...
Misinformation about the impact the coronavirus is having on the safety of food in the Asia-Pacific region has led to confusion and concern among consumers, and it’s time to set the record straight, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced today.
The spread of COVID-19 has affected supply chains and international trade across the region. But concerns among food safety stakeholders and consumers that COVID-19 might be...
FAO honored by minting of special coin in India
Director-General thanks Prime Minister for country’s support and the gesture of minting a commemorative 75-rupee coin on the occasion of FAO’s 75th birthday and World Food Day 2020
18.10.2020 Rome
India has minted a commemorative coin to celebrate World Food Day and the 75th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the gesture and for the country's support. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with India as we work together toward achieving the SDGs by 2030," the Director-General expressed on Twitter.
Prime Minister Modi presented the new coin, with a...
On World Food Day, Asia-Pacific countries consider bold plan to recover from COVID-19 and eradicate hunger
Response and recovery need innovation and collaboration to ensure sustainable food security and agricultural livelihoods
16.10.2020 Bangkok
Every year, FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific celebrates the importance of World Food Day. This year, given the COVID-19 global pandemic and the disruptions it has caused to livelihoods and food security, our celebrations are muted, yet within this context, today’s World Food Day itself has become more important than ever.
While the spread of the coronavirus has seriously disrupted food security and livelihoods for millions of people...
UN Agencies among partners supporting ASEAN moves to strengthen social protection systems for inclusive and resilient COVID-19 response and recovery
15.10.2020 Jakarta/Bangkok
Representatives from various sectoral bodies in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) met virtually Thursday for a high-level roundtable to discuss accelerated actions to leverage social protection to address COVID-19 pandemic and to officially launch the ASEAN Guidelines on Disaster Responsive Social Protection to Increase Resilience.
The ASEAN region is facing a socio-economic crisis due to COVID-19. Average growth in GDP in 2020 has been estimated at just 0.1 percent, compared...
Pacific countries receive support for national Food-Based Dietary Guidelines
30.09.2020 Apia, Samoa
FAO is collaborating with government Ministries for Health, Food and Agriculture from several Pacific countries to provide support to revise national Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG).
The partnership follows requests by the Governments of Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu to provide technical assistance in revising and implementing national Food-Based Dietary Guidelines. In response, FAO is designing and funding the regional project called - Technical support for national Food-Based...
The FishFAD project (also known as Enhancing livelihoods and food security through fisheries with nearshore fish aggregating devices in the Pacific) is developing tuna products to provide both local income and nutrient-dense options in Pacific Island countries.
In June this year, the first training on manufacturing tuna products was held in Bairiki, Kiribati. The four-day training included beneficiaries from South Tarawa and representatives from the Betio fish aggregating device (FAD) committee...
UN’s FAO strengthens partnership with leading civil society organization in Asia-Pacific to achieve food security, improved livelihoods and sustainable transformation of agriculture
23.09.2020 Bangkok/Quezon City
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today formalized its partnership with one of Asia’s leading civil society organizations working to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote transformative, sustainable agriculture.
The CSO, Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA), is a regional leader in building partnerships to empower farmers. It has been active...