In focus

Eco-travelling with mountain communities

Tourism initiatives that support mountain peoples and their environment

Highlights
Director-General
Sustainable tourism plays a key role in boosting livelihoods, poverty alleviation, and environmental conservation in mountainous areas
News
Sustainable tourism can offer mountain communities a path to prosperity and inclusion

FAO and UNWTO launch new publication at high-level event to celebrate International Mountain Day 2021.

News
New FAO report on land and water resources paints an alarming picture

Pressures on land and water resources increase to critical point after significant deterioration over the past decade, according to SOLAW 2021.

FAO Director-General highlights importance of mountain tourism at Rome’s Quirinale Palace

QU Dongyu addressed high-level event in the official residency of the President of Italy ahead of International Mountain Day.

Landscape from the interactive State of Food and Agriculture 2020 report showing a freshwater river flowing through a city.
Interactive story
Our very existence depends on water

Freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce. Let’s look at how we can overcome water challenges in agriculture.

In Focus
The holiday season is a time for hope

This year, the Sustainable Development Goals can be found in Rome, Italy wrapped as presents. 

A food-secure world starts with the right to food
Publication
A food-secure world starts with the right to food

Browse a selection of publications demonstrating FAO’s commitment to building a sustainable, food-secure world that leaves no one behind.

Director-General
FAO Director-General highlights importance of mountain tourism at Rome’s Quirinale Palace

QU Dongyu addressed high-level event in the official residency of the President of Italy ahead of International Mountain Day.

Voices of Impact

Kyrgyz mountain women collaborate with fashion designer Stella Jean

Mountain women in Kyrgyzstan are working with Stella Jean to bring their traditional felt designs to the international market.

DURATION 4:18
Videos
Solar powered water pumps in Yemen

FAO, in partnership with the European Union, is supporting farmers by providing them with solar-powered pumps, water-saving drip irrigation kits and training on improved farming practices.


Protecting our land, soil and water systems

Over 95% of our food is produced on land and all begins with soil and water. We need to work together to sustainably manage these vital resources.

Podcasts

Smallholder farmers in Montenegro are turning to agritourism to diversify their incomes. The project is having all kinds of positive impacts, especially on young people.


Water means different things to different people, yet we all depend on water to survive. How can we safeguard it for everyone?

FAO and the SDGs

FAO supports governments and partners to design the right policies and programmes to end hunger, promote food security and promote sustainable agriculture for millions of people around the world.

Hover the mouse over an SDG icon for more information

A world free from hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contributes to improving the living standards of all

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FAO works with governments and partners to empower some of the world’s most marginalized people to end rural poverty.

sdg photo

FAO helps ensure food security by developing ways of growing food that will work in the future so that millions of people don’t go hungry.

sdg photo

Good health starts with nutrition. FAO sets global standards and works with governments and the private sector to ensure food quality and safety throughout the food chain.

sdg photo

FAO invests in educational systems for rural communities and supports improved access to primary education and school meals in order to create equal opportunities for all and chances of lifelong learning.

sdg photo

FAO supports gender equality in the agricultural sector in an effort to raise levels of nutrition in local communities and improve agricultural productivity.

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FAO works with governments to ensure water use in agriculture is made more efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly.

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FAO promotes the use of renewable energies and works to ensure access to modern energy services across the food chain.

sdg photo

FAO seeks better economic opportunities for all by investing in sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that reduce inequalities and create decent jobs.

sdg photo

FAO seeks to secure a future for rural communities via investments in transportation, irrigation, food storage facilities and communication technologies.

sdg photo

FAO works with countries and partners to generate employment in rural areas, ensure access to natural resources for the most vulnerable and connect farmers to markets.

sdg photo

FAO works to improve urban healthcare, water quality and rethink city region food systems to help deter the negative effects of sprawling urbanisation.

sdg photo

FAO coordinates major global initiatives and projects to tackle food waste and loss, partnering with international organisations, the private sector and civil society.

sdg photo

FAO supports countries in responding to the threats of climate change by providing advice, data and tools for better agricultural policies and practices.

sdg photo

FAO, in partnership with governments and fishing communities, implements best practices in fisheries to ensure our oceans are protected as a means of livelihoods.

sdg photo

FAO promotes sustainable approaches to natural resource management and supports endeavours that promote a balance between conservation and development initiatives.

sdg photo

FAO plays a critical role in peacebuilding, restoring rural livelihoods, building resilience and participatory approaches to policymaking.

sdg photo

FAO acts as a neutral policymaking forum and develops partnerships with all concerned with food and agriculture to ensure a world free from hunger.

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FAO supports governments and partners to design the right policies and programmes to end hunger, promote food security and promote sustainable agriculture for millions of people around the world.

sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO works with governments and partners to empower some of the world’s most marginalized people to end rural poverty.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO helps ensure food security by developing ways of growing food that will work in the future so that millions of people don’t go hungry.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

Good health starts with nutrition. FAO sets global standards and works with governments and the private sector to ensure food quality and safety throughout the food chain.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO invests in educational systems for rural communities and supports improved access to primary education and school meals in order to create equal opportunities for all and chances of lifelong learning.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO supports gender equality in the agricultural sector in an effort to raise levels of nutrition in local communities and improve agricultural productivity.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO works with governments to ensure water use in agriculture is made more efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO promotes the use of renewable energies and works to ensure access to modern energy services across the food chain.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO seeks better economic opportunities for all by investing in sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that reduce inequalities and create decent jobs.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO seeks to secure a future for rural communities via investments in transportation, irrigation, food storage facilities and communication technologies.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO works with countries and partners to generate employment in rural areas, ensure access to natural resources for the most vulnerable and connect farmers to markets.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO works to improve urban healthcare, water quality and rethink city region food systems to help deter the negative effects of sprawling urbanisation.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO coordinates major global initiatives and projects to tackle food waste and loss, partnering with international organisations, the private sector and civil society.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO supports countries in responding to the threats of climate change by providing advice, data and tools for better agricultural policies and practices.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO, in partnership with governments and fishing communities, implements best practices in fisheries to ensure our oceans are protected as a means of livelihoods.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO promotes sustainable approaches to natural resource management and supports endeavours that promote a balance between conservation and development initiatives.

Tap for more

sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO plays a critical role in peacebuilding, restoring rural livelihoods, building resilience and participatory approaches to policymaking.

Tap for more
sdg photo
sdg photo

FAO acts as a neutral policymaking forum and develops partnerships with all concerned with food and agriculture to ensure a world free from hunger.

Tap for more

World exports of cereals by main commodities (million tonnes)

2019 Maize

183.75

2019 Wheat

179.52

2019 Rice

43.64

Source: FAOSTAT

Note: Percentages on the figure indicate the shares in the total; they may not tally due to rounding.

In depth

In Focus
Hand in Hand Initiative

Discover an evidence-based, country-led and country-owned initiative to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development. 

4 Betters visual
In Focus
FAO’s Strategic Framework

Articulating FAO's vision of a sustainable and food secure world for all, in the context of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

Graph
Statistics
FAOSTAT - Food and agriculture data

FAOSTAT provides free access to food and agriculture data for over 245 countries and territories and covers all FAO regional groupings from 1961 to the most recent year available.

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Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems