In focus

What we eat matters

Our food choices can improve our health and our impact on natural resources

Highlights
Director-General
Update
FAO’s Engagement in Ukraine

Centrality of Agriculture to Ukraine and the Region.


News
FAO Food Price Index rises to record high in February

Vegetable oils and dairy products lead the increase, while early forecasts point to strong prospects for maize and wheat in the year ahead.

Ukraine: FAO Director-General highlights need to safeguard access to food, reinforce food security

UN appeal includes $183.5 million for urgent food and agricultural livelihoods assistance.

Interactive story
Make healthy eating a habit

For children and adolescents, healthy diets are essential to grow and develop.

International year
Help spread the word

This year is about celebrating artisanal fisheries and aquaculture! Here’s how you can get the message out there.

Publication
Land, soil and water resources at stake

Land, soil and water resources for food production form the core of the global food system, and produce more than 95% of the food we eat.

Director-General
Ukraine: FAO Director-General highlights need to safeguard access to food, reinforce food security

UN appeal includes $183.5 million for urgent food and agricultural livelihoods assistance.

Voices of Impact

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021

The video presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DURATION 3:04
Videos
A brighter future for people and wildlife - Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

The Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme is working closely with communities and governments to improve food security and the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife.


The power of pulses

Pulses and legumes contribute to the sustainability of food systems and are one of the main drivers to enable healthy diets.


Podcasts

In the Greater Karamoja Cluster, competition over natural resources has led to cattle raids and violent conflicts in recent decades. Now, peace in the region is contributing to more sustainable and resilient food systems.


Innovators across the globe are coming up with novel ways to harness the ocean’s resources sustainably. Meet Lucy Hughes, inventor of MarinaTex, a bioplastic made from fish waste.

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

sdg photo

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.

sdg photo

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

sdg photo

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

Share of land area by type and region

Source: FAOSTAT, 09/2021
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4477en

2020 World

31.2%

2010 World

31.5%

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.

logo-giahs

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems