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. 

Sonya Kirgizova is well known in the mountain villages of Tojikobod in central-eastern Tajikistan. Her neighbours admire her greenhouse, her jars filled with pickled Anzur onions and cucumbers, and the buzzing hives behind her home. More than anything, though, they trust her. This trust is what m...

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, including ...

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.

The year opened with the resumed session of the Biodiversity COP at FAO Headquarters. Bringing together the biodiversity world at FAO HQ sent a clear signal that biodiversity goals cannot be met without transforming agrifood systems. This includes the vital work on the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework monitoring system that includes more than 20 indicators entrusted to FAO. 

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved eight projects led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) worth nearly $60 million designed to help seven countries improve their management of agricultural landscapes, promote climate-friendly and biodiversity-positive livestock production, and restore forest, coastal, and marine ecosystems.

This month's highlights include results of the Global Forest Resources Assessment, a flagship report on land degradation and policy responses across different landholding scales, and new guidance offering legislative options to protect pollinators and strengthen biodiversity-friendly governance across agrifood systems.

Representatives from Europe and Central Asia gathered for the Third Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Mainstreaming Across Agricultural Sectors, organized by FAO. The event brought together government officials, researchers, technical experts, civil society organizations, farmers’ representatives, and youth and women’s groups to discuss how to strengthen policy coherence, institutional capacity and regional cooperation to better integrate biodiversity into agrifood systems.

We celebrate World Soil Day annually on 5 December to raise global awareness about the role soils play in agricultural development, ecosystem functions and food security.

Agrifood systems are crucial for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), with over half of the 23 global targets directly depending on them. Achieving at least half of these targets by 2030 requires direct action from all agricultural sectors.

How an international treaty aims to conserve plant genetic resources