In Düzce, Türkiye, 32 percent of youth are unemployed. Many opt to move to the city in search of work. Beekeeping offers young people an alternative path and income opportunities in rural areas.

Across Europe and Central Asia, a new generation of farmers are using their innovation and vision to reshape agriculture. Armed with bold ideas, boundless energy and a deep commitment to sustainability, young people not only are breathing new life into rural areas, but they also are driving the transition towards resilient, inclusive and future-ready agrifood systems.

Today, the European Commission on Agriculture opens in Budapest, Hungary, as a key biennial discussion forum for the countries of Europe and Central Asia on topics related to food and agriculture. The Forty-fourth Session centres on the challenge of producing more with less, with key topics covering inclusive food and agriculture policies, digital solutions, and resilient investments, as well as the region’s response to multiple crisis.

More than 150 animal health experts, policymakers and international partners gathered in Belgrade from 22 to 25 September 2025 for the first Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs) Regional Conference of Standing Groups of Experts on priority transboundary animal diseases in the European region.
The event, supported by the European Union, marked the twentieth anniversary of GF-TADs Europe, a platform led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) to guide coordinated action against animal health threats.

Every year, millions of tonnes of edible food are lost or wasted worldwide, while millions of people lack access to food. On this year’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, celebrated on 29 September, the story of Nana Olkishvili – founder of Enkenia, the first officially recognized food bank in Georgia – shows how individual determination can drive meaningful change.

Representatives of governments, farmers’ organizations, civil society and academia from the two regions gathered on 22 and 23 September in Rome for the Interregional Dialogue on Family Farming for Europe and Central Asia to exchange good practices and discuss priority directions for supporting family farmers.

Climate shocks, biodiversity loss and rising food insecurity continue to challenge communities worldwide. Innovative and sustainable solutions are needed more than ever to turn the tide on these negative trends. It was to this end that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened the first Global Forum on Green Agriculture and the Second Regional Science and Innovation Week for Europe and Central Asia from 9 to 11 September 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.

A group of tourists arrive at the Pešić household, looking around curiously and asking about lunch options near Tomaševo, a small village of about 300 inhabitants in northeastern Montenegro. A region known for its mountainous terrain and scenic landscapes, agritourism is just starting to take shape, mostly from other Europeans looking to experience the charm and peace of rural life.

After three years as a news correspondent, Nino Tadiashvili decided to transition to agricultural production – a long-standing family tradition in the Gavazi village of the Kakheti region in Georgia. Through the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), funded by the European Union (EU) and Sweden, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has set up farmer field schools to support Nino and her community in acquiring knowledge on pest management, climate-smart agricultural methods and food safety. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro, recently held a two-day capacity-building training to support the country’s preparation for the implementation of the LEADER approach, a key component of the European Union’s rural development framework.