News archive 2020

The event "Transforming agri-food systems and fostering inclusive rural development in the context of COVID-19 to end rural poverty" was held virtually, on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly's Special Session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the onset, the Director-General highlighted that the world has continued to change rapidly since the Council met last time in July, noting that the adjustments introduced in the Organization have helped FAO to react better to the new normal and better serve its Members.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development. Due to COVID-19, the Year has been extended beyond the first half of 2021.

The European Union, FAO and Paradise Foods Ltd aim to improve opportunities for smallholder farmers in the cocoa sector

More than 3 billion people live in agricultural areas with high to very high levels of water shortages and scarcity, and freshwater resources per person have declined by more than 20 percent over the past two decades, FAO's SOFA 2020 report says.

Global leaders called today for an urgent action to transform agri-food systems to make them more sustainable and resilient in the face of COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, and ensure that everyone has access to affordable, healthy and nutritious food.

Speaking at the G20 Leaders' Summit hosted virtually by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qu Dongyu acknowledged the concrete efforts made so far by G20 members to keep food supply chains alive and food trade flowing amid the pandemic, and encouraged countries to continue using trade "to boost farmers' productivity, income and sustainability."

The heads of the the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the World Health Organization (WHO) today launched the new One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.

A new five-year partnership signed today between the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR)and FAO aims to scale up the possibilities of bamboo and rattan to reduce rural poverty and increase carbon sequestration.

This World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November), the Organization highlights that everyone has a role to play to combat AMR, including stakeholders across the food and agriculture sectors, and rolls out recommendations to curb the spread of AMR.