Energy

FAO and IRENA strengthen partnership with renewed agreement to advance renewable energy solutions in agrifood systems

15/01/2025

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an additional four years, extending their partnership to January 2029 to advance renewable energy solutions in agrifood systems and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The agreement was formalized through an exchange of letters between FAO Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) Kaveh Zahedi and IRENA Director of Country Engagement and Partnerships (CEP) Gurbuz Gonul.

Under the renewed agreement, a new work plan has been developed to align efforts with FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–2031 and IRENA’s Medium-Term Strategy 2023–2027, further strengthening their collaboration.

The renewed MoU is founded on the positive outcomes achieved since its initial signing on 12 January 2021 and underscores a shared commitment to scaling up renewable energy solutions for climate resilience, energy access, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Key areas of cooperation include:

  • assess the energy-food nexus and sustainable bioenergy within IRENA’s Renewables Readiness Assessments and FAO’s programmes, supporting countries in realizing bioenergy potential;
  • contribute to initiatives like FAO’s Green Cities and Hand-in-Hand programmes, and IRENA’s energy transition work for recovery, resilience, and net-zero goals;
  • explore renewable energy solutions for agrifood supply chains, including regional viability studies;
  • promote geothermal energy use in agriculture with guidelines and training for policymakers; and
  • develop joint studies on energy-food-water links, enhance bioenergy data use, and secure funding for these efforts.

This collaboration reaffirms FAO and IRENA’s dedication to driving innovative energy solutions that safeguard the environment, improve livelihoods, and contribute to a more sustainable future – leaving no one behind.