Livestock keeping has traditionally been a baseline activity for many families in Central Asia. Protecting animal health safeguards rural livelihoods and avoids major negative socio-economic consequences. Two back-to-back FAO meetings in Tashkent this wee

Just a few hours by plane from the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) headquarters in Geneva used to be the abundant waters of the Aral Sea. At its height as the fourth biggest lake in the world, the body of water was bigger than Switzerland. But

The GFCM countries adopted today 15 decisions to ensure conservation and sustainable use of marine living resources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. On the occasion of the forty-third session of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterrane

FAO enters a new phase to assist implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Europe and Central Asia through a workshop today in Ankara. Participants will validate an action plan that goes more in-depth on how to implement the 21 SDG indi

Achieving equality between women and men is a precondition for sustainable agricultural production and rural development, achieving food security, and elimination of poverty. As livestock is the second-largest contributor to the global agricultural econom

Links between rural development and land management instruments are at the centre of discussions during the international meeting of LANDNET – a network of land professionals from European and Central Asian countries. Kicking off today, the four-day annua

FAO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation today agreed to boost joint efforts aimed at providing food security and sustainable development for present and future generations, in the context of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

World Food Day, established 40 years ago, is commemorated every year on 16 October – the date on which FAO was founded in 1945. During the month of October, the occasion is used to host a wide variety of popular events around the world. Word Food Day 201

Forty-one successful winners from Hisor city and Jaloliddini Balkhi district were awarded with matching grants to realize their business plans, which focus on improving agricultural mechanization, dry fruit production, horticulture, greenhouses for lemon

The National Council for Sustainable Development of North Macedonia met in Skopje today to call on enhanced climate action through strategic engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF). It was convened by FAO and the cabinet of the deputy president of th

As the dragon-featuring hit series Game of Thrones has shown, knowing how to grow and tend sources of fire can be highly empowering, especially when winter is coming. Equally, misuse of the source can have destructive effects on people and ecosystems. Wh

Family farming shouldn’t be a solitary activity. Rural communities are key for supporting farmers and the development of the rural economy. In Europe and Central Asia, FAO has been supporting different initiatives and projects related to local rural devel

Women are key actors and caretakers of household food security, particularly in rural areas of Tajikistan. They are largely responsible for preparing meals, carrying drinking water, rationing food and caring for their children’s health. At the same time, they produce food, manage natural resources and make income to support their families.

The issues of water are complex, challenging, and universal. People mostly think of water as the solution for thirst. However, it is the magic ingredient in food as well, essential for agriculture, which accounts for 70 percent of fresh water withdrawals.

The Codex Alimentarius Coordinating Committee for Europe (CCEURO) concluded today with the adoption of a report outlining discussions on food fraud, emerging food safety and quality issues, use of Codex standards, updates on recent global conferences orga

Countries in Europe and Central Asia are highly diverse in climate, topography, ecology, and agriculture and as a result experience myriad external threats to plant health, known as heterogeneous phytosanitary systems. Pests damage crop production, forest

Georgia boasts an ideal climate and ample water resources for growing almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts. Although hazelnut production is well-established in Georgia – it is one of the top global exporters of hazelnuts – the country remains a net

Europe and the Caucasus are rich in lakes and rivers, which have provided food, income, and recreational and leisure opportunities for centuries, including a long history of European fish farming. Starting today, a five-day FAO workshop will present the c

Registration of pesticides is an important step in the management of pesticides. It enables authorities to determine which products are permitted to be used and for what purposes, and also to exercise control over quality, use levels, claims, labelling, p

Degradation of land and ecosystems is one of the greatest challenges that face countries around the world. Human socio-economic activities and bio-physical factors, such as deforestation and soil erosion, exacerbated by climate change, are the main causes