Representatives from across Europe gathered in Tartu, Estonia, on 3–4 June 2026 for a technical workshop on the European Union’s LEADER approach and its contributions to the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems.
The event was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Tartu County Development Association, a local action group.

The medieval, hilltop town of Sermoneta straddles the bright blue Tyrrhenian Sea in the distance to the west and the Lepini mountain chain of the Apennines, rearing dramatically to the east. The twisting cobblestoned streets and imposing castle have changed little over past centuries, and against this medieval tableau of grey stone crenelated fortress walls, towers and arches, one bright treasure glows yellow in the warming sun.

An international treaty to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is now in force in the Republic of Moldova, linking the country to a global control system and aligning it with international and European standards.

The CACFish meeting marked an important step towards establishing a practical, regionally harmonized data collection mechanism to support evidence-based fisheries management across Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Twelve-year-old Tomo Popovski from Skopje has been selected as one of the global winners of the FAO World Food Day 2025 Poster Contest, marking the fourth time a young artist from North Macedonia has been recognized among the winners of the competition. A seventh-grade student at "Kocho Racin" Primary School, Tomo won in the 9–12 years category with his poster inspired by the World Food Day theme, "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future", which highlights the importance of collective action and solidarity in building a more sustainable and food-secure world.

The Central Asia Water-Land Nexus (CAWLN) programme launched its implementation phase at the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Funded by the GEF and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the regional programme brings five countries together to advance integrated approaches to land and water management in Central Asia. 

In western Georgia, where humid conditions and increasingly unpredictable weather create constant pressure from pests and diseases, farmers are learning that producing safe food begins long before harvest. For Giorgi Gvaramia, responsible production starts with observation. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union, and Sweden under ENPARD IV, his farm has been developed into a demonstration plot for local farmers to improve their knowledge on crop monitoring techniques, integrated pest management, greenhouse management, with the plan to use plant protection products more effectively resulting in safer crop production.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has provided the Committee for Food Security under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan with laboratory equipment and ELISA diagnostic kits to support national efforts to strengthen disease surveillance, food safety monitoring, and preparedness for animal health emergencies. The support is provided through the regional initiative “Pandemic Preparedness and Response through a One Health Approach in Central Asia”, financed by the Pandemic Fund. 

The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) QU Dongyu concluded a two-day visit to Belarus by calling for greater investment in science, innovation and human capital to address growing global food insecurity. He also emphasized the importance of stronger partnerships among governments, research institutions, universities, farmers, the private sector and international organizations to accelerate agrifood systems transformation across Europe, Central Asia and beyond.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Europe and Central Asia held a webinar celebrating the growth of its AgriTech Observatory, a Digital Public Good designed to help navigate digital agricultural developments across the region. The event explored what has been accomplished so far and what is in store for the platform.