Heavy trucks loaded with food donations queued through central Budapest on the occasion of World...
Regional Initiatives
As economic reforms in the 1990s shifted land ownership into the hands of private smallholders, family farmers became the predominant source of agricultural production in the region. To address the absence of well-developed institutional support, FAO is implementing a Regional Initiative on Empowering Smallholders and Family Farms for Improved Rural Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction.
While international trade policy is usually implemented at the border, adherence to food safety and quality standards concerns national food safety systems as well as food safety and quality control at the enterprise level. This means that a supportive policy environment for modern agrifood trade encompasses not only border policies, but also policies and institutions at the national and enterprise level.
The impact of climate change can already be felt on food production systems in the region, posing considerable challenges for agricultural production and food security. FAO is helping countries to manage their natural resources sustainably, while also coping with climate change and reducing the risk of disasters affecting agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Stories from the field
Georgia boasts an ideal climate and ample water resources for growing almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts. Although hazelnut production is well-established in Georgia – it is one of the top global exporters of hazelnuts – the country remains a net importer of walnuts, pistachios, and almonds. Georgia needs to build the capacity of its producers to become more competitive in domestic and export markets.
Europe and the Caucasus are rich in lakes and rivers, which have provided food, income, and recreational and leisure opportunities for centuries, including a long history of European fish farming. Starting today, a five-day FAO workshop will present the current state of pond aquaculture in Western Europe and contribute to its development in Central-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus through knowledge transfer.
Live animal movement is a major cause of the introduction or dissemination of livestock and wildlife infectious diseases, whether through local and international trade-related transportation or through traditional herd movement.