FAO convened the 32nd Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC) at its headquarters in Rome, 24-28 February this year. Ministers and top level senior officials from countries across the region came together to participate in top level discussions on issues facing the region.

Delegates focused their discussions on the state of food and agriculture in the Near East and North Africa and examining strategy for sustainable water management as the Region faces what may be the most severe intensification of water scarcity in its history. The conference also addressed ways to reduce food losses and waste in the region, where a significant amount of food is lost along the food chain.

Addressing gender in agriculture and the rural sector in the Near East and North Africa was another major topic of discussion as the region now enjoys a growing number of women farmers. In addition, Member States spent conference days defining the priority areas of FAO’s work in the region for the upcoming biennium.