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As the world works to build sustainable and resilient food systems, one essential factor stands out: the renewal of generations in agriculture. Young family farmers are not only the future of the sector — they are its present. With creativity, determination, and new technologies, they are transforming agrifood systems from the ground up. This message was at the heart of the hybrid event “Future of Family Farming: Policy Innovations for Young Farmers,” held on 15 October 2025 at FAO headquarters in Rome as part of the World Food Forum.

Family farming is at the heart of sustainable food systems, yet its full potential can only be realized when farmers have the means to access, share, and co-create knowledge. Rural Communication Services (RCS) are a key dimension of this process: they provide family farmers with timely, relevant, and accessible information while creating platforms for dialogue and collective action. By enabling innovation, inclusion, and resilience, RCS are increasingly recognized as essential to advancing the goals of the UN Decade of Family Farming (2019–2028). 

FAO, in collaboration with the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Rural Communication Working Group (RUC), led a special session at the 2025 IAMCR Conference in Singapore on 16 July to celebrate the winners of the Rural Communication Services (RCS) Awards. The RCS Awards, established by FAO and IAMCR RUC, recognize outstanding research that contributes to more inclusive rural communication services—an area of work that remains central to FAO’s efforts to promote equitable access to information, knowledge sharing, and participation in rural communities. 

A new opportunity is now available for Spanish-speaking learners to explore the power of participatory video (PV) in rural development. FAO has just released the Spanish version of its certified e-learning course: “Video participativo en sistemas agroalimentarios y entornos digitales”, now freely accessible through the FAO elearning Academy.

In this interview, Mario Acunzo, Head of FAO's Communication for Development (ComDev) Team, shares insights on the continued relevance of ComDev in today’s world. He highlights how participatory communication approaches are essential to fostering inclusion, encouraging local engagement and facilitating knowledge sharing—critical elements for achieving sustainable food systems and advancing rural development.

Beekeeping, or apiculture, is not just a hobby or a side job – it is a vital agricultural activity and essential for food security and biodiversity. Beekeepers, often smallholder or family farmers, play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems through pollination and ensuring the health of countless crops. The publication Digital Technologies and Solutions for Beekeeping how innovative technologies are helping support this vital practice, boosting productivity and complementing the deep-rooted expertise, knowledge and skills of beekeepers.

FAO is pleased to announce the launch of its latest certified e-learning course, “Participatory Video in Agrifood Systems and Digital Environments”. Developed by the FAO Communication for Development (ComDev) team at PSUF and the FAO E-learning team at PSUR, in collaboration with the International Training Center of the International Labor Organization (ITC-ILO), Digital Green (DG), and the College of Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (CDC-UPLB), this course is now available for free as a global public good through the FAO E-learning Academy: https://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=1185.

International Women's Day (IWD) 2025, celebrated on March 8, embraced the theme "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." This theme underscored the global commitment to ensuring that every woman and girl, regardless of her background, enjoys equal rights and opportunities. 

FAO has launched the "Voices for Change" video series, a collection of interviews and insights from key stakeholders at the Global Family Farming Forum (GFFF), held in October 2024. The GFFF, hosted at FAO Headquarters in Rome, brought together over 400 participants from different regions to discuss policies, innovations, and challenges affecting family farmers. 

As the world marks World Radio Day 2025 on 13 February under the theme Radio and Climate Change, it is worth reflecting on the fundamental role of radio in rural communication. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, disrupting food systems, natural resources, livelihoods and economies, particularly in rural areas. Farmers, fisherfolks, and pastoralists are on the front lines of these changes, needing timely and relevant information to adapt.

FAO hosted the “Rural Radio: Voices for Change" initiative as part of the Global Family Farming Forum (GFFF), which took place at the FAO Headquarters in Rome from October 15 to 18. This model radio station aimed at amplifying the voices of family farmers and rural communities, shedding light on their role in achieving sustainable agrifood systems. It also showcased the important role that rural radio plays in many countries, facilitating access to relevant information and fostering active engagement among family farmers. 

In a bid to propel the role of communication for family farming into the spotlight, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted the technical seminar Rural Communication Services (RCS) and Inclusive Innovation Approaches for Family Farming on 29 April 2024, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The seminar was part of the ongoing implementation of the United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019–2028 (UNDFF), a global initiative aimed at unleashing the potential of family farmers to drive transformative change within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

In the heart of Africa’s agricultural landscape, where the rhythm of life is set by the tilling of fields and the planting of seeds, family farmers stand as guardians of tradition and stewards of sustainability. Amid this backdrop, the power of radio emerges as a transformative force, amplifying their voices and empowering communities through initiatives like the YenKasa Africa rural radio initiative.