“The battle for sustainable development in Africa must be fought and won in the agriculture and rural sectors,” emphasized Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, at the virtual interactive dialogue “Sustainable Agriculture and Development in Africa: Lessons learned from COVID-19 for Building...

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York serves as a link between FAO and the United Nations System. Located just across the United Nations Secretariat building, our office has welcomed many colleagues from around the world who come to attend meetings in...

The Group of Friends of Food Security and Nutrition hosted a virtual high-level meeting to discuss the findings of the Secretary General’s Policy Brief on The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition. The brief forms part of a series that lays out a vision for how the international...

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has launched a Policy Brief to address The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was the penholder, in collaboration with the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United...

For today's interview, we speak to Edward Seidler, President of the Former Food and Agriculture Organization and Other United Nations Staff Association (FFOA).Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected FFOA’s operations? What measures have been taken to overcome constraints? FFOA's membership is global and represents the interests of approximately 1700 United Nations (UN)...

On 2 June, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in a webinar organized by the Women Forward International, in collaboration with the Goldman School of Public Policy (University of California, Berkeley) and the White Pony Express non-profit organization. The virtual event addressed the problem of...

For today's interview, we speak to Darja Bavdaž Kuret, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations.Slovenia is known as a nation of beekeepers. How does honey farming factor in the country’s economy and trade ties with the rest of the world? Beekeeping in Slovenia is...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in the 2020 Africa Dialogue Series, which took place from 20 to 22 May under the theme “COVID-19 and Silencing the Guns in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”. Dr. Chimimba David Phiri, FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, and Representative...

In 2019, the 74th United Nations General Assembly designated 21 May as International Tea Day, acknowledging that tea is an important cash crop that plays a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security in developing countries. The first observance of the International Tea Day was...

This year, 20 May – World Bee Day – is taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing new focus to the importance of safe and sustainable food, in which bees and other pollinators have a vital role. The members of the Green Group – Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Iceland, Singapore,...

The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) co-organized in May a virtual briefing for PSIDS Permanent Representatives to the United Nations to address the impacts of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition in the islands and discuss policy responses. The...

For today's interview, we speak to José Singer, Special Envoy of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations Security Council.You have recently presided over the United Nations Security Council. Which would you consider to be the highlights of your presidency and why?  I think that given the unprecedented and unique circumstances that...

“Science, technology and innovation play are critical in addressing global challenges and transforming food systems to sustainably feed the world’s growing population,” said Carla Mucavi, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office in New York, at the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Digital Conference.  Mucavi went...

COVID-19 is creating significant food security and nutrition challenges that cities worldwide need to respond to and that go beyond the health emergency. According to a recent FAO survey targeting municipalities worldwide and that received responses from over 800 cities in 76 countries, measures taken to contain the spread of...

On 12 May, the Grassroots Indigenous and Traditional Women Agents for Change in the Caribbean organized a webinar to address major issues that affect and shape the lives and livelihoods of women in the Caribbean. Voices for Change in the Caribbean was hosted by the Maron Women Chamber of Cooperation,...

For today's interview, we speak to Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa.   Can you give us an idea of the growing direct impact that COVID-19 is having on Africa, with special regard to food and agriculture? What are the current projections for the near future? COVID-19 is having direct and...

COVID-19 is taking a heavy toll on the economies of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In a virtual briefing that was held on 7 May and co-organized by the United Nations Office of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (OHRLLS) and the United...

Preventing a pandemic-induced food emergency by Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the United Nations General AssemblyDespite successful harvests this past season, two billion people did not have regular access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food prior to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.  Indeed, hunger has been on the rise globally for the past...

For today's interview, we speak to Mariangela Zappia, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations. Ambassador Zappia also chairs the the Group of Friends of Food Security and Nutrition in New York.You recently moderated an Extraordinary High-Level Meeting of the Group of Friends of Food Security and Nutrition on...

Today the United Nations Security Council held an open video conference on the “Protection of civilians from conflict-induced hunger”. Organized under the Presidency of the Dominican Republic, the event marked the first time that Security Council statements have been fully webcast since teleworking was effectuated to counter the spread of COVID-19. Keynote speakers included...