This Regional Priority Programme, implemented since 2016, consists of three main interrelated components.
While international trade policy is usually implemented at the border, adherence to food safety, quality standards, and controls for animal and plant diseases requires the support of national systems for disease prevention and control to facilitate the safe transfer and movement of food and agricultural commodities across borders. This means that a supportive policy environment for agrifood trade encompasses not only border policies, but also policies and institutions at national and enterprise levels. Effective markets and efficient, sustainable value chains will help all actors in the production chain play their part in a cohesive food system.
Featured news
Inside the food value chain: Where food is lost – and how it can be saved
16/04/2026
Food loss and waste rarely announce themselves. They accumulate, quietly, across decisions: when to harvest, how to store, what to discard, what...
Fix the roof while the sun is shining: Strengthening peste des petits ruminants preparedness in the region
08/04/2026
A highly contagious transboundary disease affecting sheep and goats, PPR poses serious risks to food security, trade, and rural livelihoods. Building...
Georgia celebrates International Day of Zero Waste with food loss forum
30/03/2026
Marking the International Day of Zero Waste, state authorities, associations, charity organizations and private-sector representatives convened in Tbilisi...
FAO report: Agriculture remains a lifeline for rural families in war-affected Ukraine
16/03/2026
Agriculture continues to play a critical role in protecting Ukrainian communities from food insecurity,...
Turkish delegation participates in study visit to Spain on flexibility in food safety legislation
17/03/2026
A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye visited Spain from 9 to 13 February 2026 to learn about implementing flexibility...
Republic of Moldova attracts partners to advance investment into its food and agriculture sectors
06/03/2026
Ministers – including the Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu –, senior officials and private investors from across the European Union gathered in Chișinău...
FAO offers free multilingual course to improve biosecurity on ruminant farms
03/02/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a new free virtual course to help ruminant farmers improve biosecurity...
Joint UN programme in Armenia to unlock sustainable finance for climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive food systems
02/02/2026
Under the leadership of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Armenia, Françoise Jacob, and with support from the UN Joint SDG Fund, the Government...
FAO promotes sustainable agriculture in Belarus through geographical indications
30/01/2026
Agriculture is a foundational pillar of the economy of Belarus, shaping food security, nutrition and rural well-being. Belarusian agrifood system products...
FAO Farmer Field Schools train Albanian olive growers
26/01/2026
Olive growers in the Municipality of Belsh, Albania, are strengthening their skills and practices through the expansion of the Food and Agriculture...
In Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, smallholders are farming more sustainably
12/01/2026
A multi-country initiative supporting smallholder farmers in adopting sustainable, productive and climate resilient practices has successfully concluded....
Ukraine’s agriculture: FAO sets out a three-year emergency and early recovery plan
06/01/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published its
Strengthening Europe’s capacity to respond to peste des petits ruminants
22/12/2025
Since its emergence in Europe in 2018, peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has continued to spread. Over the past two years, it has reached Albania, Bulgaria,...
Training raises hunter awareness of a deadly swine disease affecting wild boar in the Western Balkans
22/12/2025
A series of trainings recently concluded in Serbia and in Montenegro, helping hunters improve their knowledge of African swine fever (ASF) in wild boar...
The Republic of Moldova unveils a new long-term table grape strategy
22/12/2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have announced...
FAO and Uzbekistan partner for more resilience, growth and equity in rural areas by 2030
22/12/2025
By signing a new agreement, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Uzbekistan have pledged to provide more targeted and...
Events
22/4
2026
Consultation with the private sector (EU) to the Regional Conference for Europe 2026
Brussels (Belgium), 22/04/2026
Ahead of the 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe (ERC35), to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 11 to 15 May 2026, FAO is convening a dialogue with EU-based private sector representatives in Brussels. Organized by the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, in collaboration with the European Dairy Association (EDA), the co...
29/4
2026
Consultation with the private sector (non-EU) to the Regional Conference for Europe 2026
İzmir (Türkiye), Hybrid Event, 29/04/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with, and hosted by the Izmir Commodity Exchange, is organizing a private sector consultation in Izmir, Türkiye, on 29 April 2026, in preparation for the 35th Session of the
27/3
2026
28/3
2026
Workshop on creating and maintaining digital veterinary records
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), 27/03/2026 - 28/03/2026
A dedicated workshop is being held to strengthen the capacities of veterinarians and veterinary specialists in the effective use of digital tools for veterinary control and record‑keeping. The event brings together representatives of national veterinary services, field veterinarians, information system administrators, and technical partners involved in the country’s veterinary digitalization ef...
Contact
Mary Kenny
Food safety and consumer protection officer
20 Kalman Imre utca
H-1054 Budapest
Hungary
Tel: +36 1 8141-251
Previous initiatives
See also
Sustainable Development Goals
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