Zarnigor Yakubova has been surrounded by bees for most of her life. Growing up in a small village in Boʻstonliq district, in the mountainous region of Uzbekistan, she helped her father with the family’s beekeeping work. What began as a family routine became a skill she quietly carried with her into adulthood.

In 2023, Zarnigor was approached by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to join the Leaving No One Behind project, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye. The project economically empowers rural women by providing them with access to agricultural knowledge, tools and peer networks.

At first glance, the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, in Spain’s Canary Islands, looks anything but fertile. The island is dry and harsh, blanketed in layers of black lapilli — fine volcanic gravel and ash — left behind by massive eruptions nearly three centuries ago. But look closer, and a different story emerges: green shoots of grapevines rise from black ash pits; strawberries and sweet potatoes thrive in soil that appears lifeless.

The European Forestry Commission (EFC) will meet in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 22 to 25 October to review and coordinate regional strategies on forests and the forest industry, with a specific focus on innovation. The session, coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will bring together government officials and representatives of international organizations, civil society and the private sector to discuss a wide range of issues.

This year’s World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”, calls for global cooperation to ensure a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous and food-secure future. To highlight the day’s significance, Nadire Hasani, a woman from Frashër/Svinjare village in South Mitrovica, Kosovo, shared her experience in farming and community development. Her story embodies the spirit of collaboration and perseverance. With more than 15 years of experience in growing and processing vegetables, Nadire Hasani is part of an increasing number of rural women turning small-scale farming into a promising business. 

Aggressive and invasive plant species continue to undermine biodiversity, ecosystem safety and sustainable land management in Europe and Central Asia. Both forest ecosystems and urban green spaces face ecological imbalance, loss of native species, increased fire risk and human health risk due to allergies, not to mention the emerging costs of mitigating these effects. To this end, forest and urban landscape managers, policymakers, scientists and civil society representatives came together from 13 to 16 October 2025 at the Forest Invasive Species Network for Europe and Central Asia (REUFIS) technical workshop and annual meeting to address the escalating threat posed by invasive plant species across the region.

World Food Day became part of the United Nations calendar in 1980 on the initiative of Hungary. Every year on 16 October, it reminds us that access to food is a fundamental human right and that only through joint efforts can a balanced and more sustainable diet be ensured for everyone. Approximately 8 percent of the world's population, or 673 million people, go hungry still, while in the Europe and Central Asia region, it is about 2 percent of the total population, or 24 million people.

What if a disease caused by a fungus could be a good thing? It might seem unlikely, but it is, in fact, possible, if the target of the disease is a highly invasive forest tree species. An essential component of integrated pest management (IPM), biological control involves the use of natural enemies against pests and invasive species. In a broad sense, natural enemies are organisms that cause the death or impairment of other organisms, such as pests or invasive species. FAO promotes biological control for forest ecosystem preservation.

The farmer starts a fire, takes out the horse and attempts to fix the tractor. So far, this looks like an average morning routine in the far-flung mountainous areas of Kyrgyzstan. However, nothing is average here: The farmer, Zamira, is a woman with three university degrees who left city life behind to herd yaks in the village. Zamira is the main character of the short documentary The Rock, directed by Kyrgyz filmmaker Altynay Adamalieva. The film recently won the Osiris Award, decided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), at the 2025 International Film Festival Agrofilm.

Historically, land management in Uzbekistan largely has been directed by the state. In recent years, however, the government has taken important steps towards market-oriented agriculture by strengthening land tenure security, developing a market for land use rights and improving the system of land relations management. These steps include the development of a national strategy to improve land management and the ongoing revision of the Land Code. In response to an official request from Uzbekistan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing a project to support land reforms in the country. 

Türkiye produces most of the world’s pine honey, notably along the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. And now that pine honey – Türk Çam Balı – is nationally protected thanks to the geographic indication (GI) recently awarded by TURKPATENT, the Turkish Patent and Trademark office. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) worked closely with Türkiye’s main pine honey industry players – beekeepers, processors, exporters, government officials, economists and scientists – to develop and register the GI. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Global environmental crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, are threatening livelihoods and agrifood systems. With resources limited and the need for action more urgent than ever, a fundamental and sustainable transformation of our agrifood systems is required to build a resilient and sustainable future. To address this challenge head-on, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together government officials and experts for a pivotal Regional Planning Meeting on Climate and Environmental Finance.