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A CLOSING NEWS CONFERENCE IS OPEN TO ALL: Friday, 1 November – Novotel Siam Hotel – Noon, Library Room Floor B1 Asia-Pacific’s coconut trees are so old they cannot produce enough coconuts and by-products to keep up with the world’s rapidly growing demand. As the aging trees produce fewer raw materials, the livelihoods of millions are affected. So critical is the need for a coordinated solution, 15 countries from Asia and the...

While the world presently has enough food to feed everyone on the planet, that’s unlikely to be the case in the not too distant future. "We have to prepare for the risk of a potential food crisis in Asia and the Pacific," Hiroyuki Konuma, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, told a gathering of UN organizations and diplomats at a seminar...

Successful farmers are often those who possess three particular qualities. They are industrious, committed and clever. Jarun Jaroensap of Thailand is exactly that type of person. In recognition, Jarun was presented today with the FAO’s World Food Day Model Farmer Award for his success as an organic entrepreneur and businessman. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who presided over the annual event, presented the FAO’s annual Asia-Pacific award to Jarun and...

The Asia and Pacific Region has made good progress in achieving the Millennium Development Hunger Goal by 2015 and is moving towards eradicating hunger by 2025 through the implementation of the Zero Hunger Challenge. However, malnutrition remains a serious concern, said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific at a World Food Day event in Bangkok. Globally, one person in every eight is undernourished. One...

Bhutan farmer, Sithar Dendup, received FAO’s World Food Day Model Farmer Award today for his water management and teaching contributions to the Himalayan Kingdom’s environment and agriculture sector. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who presided over the annual event, presented FAO’s annual Asia-Pacific award to Dendup and three other Asian and Pacific farmers from Philippines, Thailand and Tonga for their outstanding achievements in agriculture and food production....

Philippine farmer Myrna Conigo Asor was presented today with the FAO’s World Food Day Model Farmer Award for her achievements in organic farming and the training she provides for other farmers and agriculture students. Conigo Asor heads an association of 23 farming families in her municipality, most headed by women and all using organic methods. She grows some 50 varieties of organic rice. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of...

Malia Guttenbeil was presented today with the FAO’s World Food Day Model Farmer Award for her success as an agriculture entrepreneur and leader of women’s handicraft groups. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, who presided over the annual event, presented the FAO’s annual Asia-Pacific award to Guttenbeil and three other farmers from Bhutan, the Philippines and Thailand. All received the awards for their outstanding achievements in agriculture and...

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the 33rd World Food Day (WFD) commemoration at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok on Wednesday 16 October. The ceremony will be attended by H.E. Yukol Limlamthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Royal Thai Government, senior government officials, members of the Bangkok-based diplomatic corps, as well as representatives from other UN Agencies and civil...

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva congratulated Indian Minister of State from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on the historical enactment of the India National Food Security Act approved in August 2013, which will provide subsidised food grains to three fourths of rural population and half of the urban population in India. The Act also promotes women empowerment. Graziano da Silva and Minister Thomas, promoter of...

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva met with the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi, at FAO Headquarters today. Graziano da Silva showed his appreciation for the country’s support to FAO and for Japan’s ratification of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Japan will become the 130th Contracting Party of the Treaty later this month. FAO Director-General also expressed his admiration for the...