Across fields, pastures, forests, rivers and seas, countries are showing that the choices that put food on the table can also build resilience, reduce emissions, halt biodiversity loss and bring degraded land back to life. 

Roughly three-quarters of the world’s leading food crops depend, at least in part, on animal pollination. Without pollinators, the foods at the center of a healthy diet, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, would become less abundant, less reliable and more expensive.

FAO has conducted new analysis of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), assessing how agrifood systems contribute to global biodiversity targets. A Policy Brief released today presents highlights from the forthcoming global analysis.

FAO participated in the third International Conference of the Yerevan Dialogue, a high‑level forum designed to bring together national and international policymakers and stakeholders to respond to interconnected global crises. 

FAO and Madagascar celebrated the conclusion of a two-year project designed to strengthen biodiversity mainstreaming across agrifood systems. The event closed a week-long mission during which the FAO delegation met with the Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy Dr. Paubert Tsimanaoraty and representatives of other ministries, and travelled to Antrema to assess and review activities, gather feedback from producers and stakeholders and exchange results, best practices and future improvements.  

This month's highlights include a report on the status of land tenure and governance, a regional initiative on the global transformation of forests for people and climate and a communication toolkit supporting the roll-out of the Guidelines on Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA). Discover also two new e-learning courses on documenting plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and on agroforestry.

What if the key to feeding future generations isn’t hidden in new technology but preserved in the world’s agricultural heritage systems? The Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) programme was established by FAO in 2002 to highlight the value of traditional agricultural systems, ranging from crop farming and fisheries to forestry and pastoralism, in contrast to large‑scale, intensive agriculture.  

Since 2006, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) began its partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), it has mobilized more than USD 530 million in the region, supporting 33 countries. At the same time, joint work with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has mobilized around USD 650 million across 24 regional projects focused on sustainable land use, restoration of productive landscapes, and resilience of rural livelihoods, integrating adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development.

This month's highlights include the e-learning course Biodiversity and agrifood systems, a synthesis report on the environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers, a guide on the fisheries sector and the BBNJ Agreement, and practical manuals and training materials on integrated soil fertility management, biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices and sustainable mussel farming. 

السيدة Sonya Kirgizova معروفة في القرى الجبلية في طوجيكوبود الواقعة في وسط شرق طاجيكستان. ويُعجب جيرانها بدفيئتها وبجرارها المملوءة بمخللات بصل الأنزور والخيار وبخلايا النحل الطنانة خلف منزلها. ولعلّ أهم ما في الامر أنهم يثقون بها. وقد جعلت منها هذه الثقة عنصرًا محوريًا في إشراك المزارِعات في مشر...

As biodiversity loss continues at the ecosystem, species and genetic levels – putting food security, nutrition and livelihoods at risk – FAO has launched a new e-learning course that offers a clear introduction to the critical interlinkages between biodiversity and agrifood systems, and why these connections matter to ensure their sustainability. 

Agrifood systems are playing an increasingly central role in countries’ biodiversity strategies and actions, according to preliminary findings presented during a High-Level Roundtable hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) at its headquarters in Rome.

This event will take stock of the contribution of agrifood systems to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGB). The roundtable will present key findings on how countries are integrating agrifood systems into their biodiversity strategies, includin...

The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) concluded its 12th Plenary Session yesterday in Manchester, UK. During the meeting, delegates approved the summary for policymakers of the business and biodiversity assessment and reached agreement on several decisions of interest to FAO’s mandate and activities. 

This month's highlights include a Roadmap for mainstreaming biodiversity across agriculture and forestry in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the second edition of the Global Plan of Action for forest genetic resources, guidelines for ex situ in vitro gene banking of aquatic genetic resources, and an updated manual on the development and use of chemical pesticides for safer agriculture and environmental protection.

IPBES12 opened today in Manchester, bringing together governments, experts, and UN agencies to advance the global biodiversity science-policy action agenda. Addressing delegates during the opening session on behalf of the UN partners, Kaveh Zahedi, FAO Assistant Director-General and Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, underscored the importance of science‑policy collaboration in responding to interconnected global crises. 

The two-day event, held from January 27-28, brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), provincial offices, and technical departments to review the achievements that link global biodiversity targets with local action. 

FAO has welcomed the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), and looks forward to contributing to its implementation.