Delegates from across the Near East region convened in Muscat, Oman, from 28 September to 02 October 2025 for the 12^th Session of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE12), the first time in more than a decade that the Committee met within the region. Hosted by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, the meeting marked a renewed commitment to advancing food safety, harmonizing regional standards, and strengthening cooperation among Member Countries.

In the framework of the Science and Innovation Forum (SIF) 2025, which focuses on advancing innovation for sustainable agrifood systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a dedicated event to launch the Regional Food Safety Research and Innovation Network. This event brought together experts, policymakers, and researchers from across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region to strengthen regional collaboration on food safety and innovation.  Held in Cairo on 2 October 2025, the regional event marked a key milestone in fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange and joint action among regional partners to strengthen food safety research and innovation

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today convened a workshop on “Agrifood Systems Transformation: Experiences from the Sustainable Rural Agriculture Development Programme (REEF) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The first-ever Hack4SaferPlates concluded in Riyadh with a showcase of bold ideas, innovative thinking, and youth-led solutions set to redefine food safety across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), the two-day event brought together technologists, policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs from across the region to tackle one shared challenge: how to make food systems safer, smarter, and more sustainable. 

A global exhibition titled “From Seeds to Foods” will take place from 10 to 13 October in the heart of Rome, marking the start of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), officially observed on 16 October.

Livestock is a cornerstone of Egypt’s agriculture, providing essential nutrition and livelihoods for millions of households. The sector contributes 37.5 percent of agricultural production value, supports 1.8 million families, and produces around 6 million tonnes of milk and 0.5 million tonnes of meat each year. Beyond food security, livestock contributes about 11 percent of Egypt’s GDP, making it a vital driver of the economy.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Programme Director in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Nizar Haddad was a keynote speaker in the celebration event of the General Food Security Authority (GFSA) event held on 29 September 2025, to launch the National Platform for Reducing Food Loss and Waste, in conjunction with the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. During the event, it was announced that the Kingdom's has achieved a 16% reduction in food loss and waste since 2019, in response to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3's, which aims to reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. 

The latest Food Policy Monitoring Bulletin issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) reveals that despite unprecedented pressures, countries in the region are taking decisive steps to stabilize markets, strengthen resilience and advance the transformation of agrifood systems.

L’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) a conclu la 27e session de la Commission des forêts et des parcours du Proche-Orient (NEFRC) à Djeddah, organisée par le Royaume d’Arabie saoudite avec le soutien du Centre national pour le développement du couvert végétal et la lutte contre la désertification (NCVC).

Forests in the Mediterranean region require greater sustainable management as they face increasing threats from human pressures and the growing impacts of climate change, according to the latest edition of The status of Mediterranean forests 2025 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today officially launched the white paper “Reimagining Sustainable Returns on Investment for Planet and People. A Near East and North Africa Regional Approach to Ecosystem Restoration and Development Solutions” at the Investors’ Panel, “From Degradation to Opportunity: Mobilizing Capital for Land Restoration,” held during the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC).

Over 150 young leaders from more than 20 countries across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region came together virtually for Youth Day, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and hosted by Saudi Arabia, ahead of the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC). 

Les pays participants discuteront cette semaine des questions clés touchant les forêts et les pâturages au Proche-Orient, à l’occasion de la 27e session de la Commission des forêts et des pâturages du Proche-Orient de l’Organisation des Nations unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO), qui se tient à Djeddah, en Arabie saoudite. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) successfully concluded a Regional Training of Trainers (ToT) on anticipatory action (AA), held from 21 to 23 September at the Semiramis Intercontinental Hotel in Cairo, Egypt.

A five-year regional programme led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to eradicate the Red Palm Weevil (RPW) has delivered unprecedented results in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. These achievements were presented during a virtual regional webinar organized by the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa to showcase the programme’s outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations. The event brought together around 87 participants, including government officials, experts, and regional and international partners from 18 countries.

From 26 May to 25 August 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) co-organized a landmark series of eleven webinars to commemorate the Seventh World Food Safety Day under the theme “Food Safety: Science in Action.” series brought together hundreds of participants from across the Arab region and beyond, including scientists, researchers, senior officials, food industry representatives, and regulators.

Port Sudan/Rome – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Sudan, has launched the 2025 national livestock vaccination campaign to safeguard livelihoods of over three million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists across ...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today opened the 13th Session of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI), hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources of Oman. The four-day session, running from 15 to 18 September, brings together delegates from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to strengthen regional cooperation on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), government officials, and donor representatives have gathered today to kick off investment support to 46 small and medium-sized Palestinian agribusinesses over the next year. 

The 2025 IPPC Regional Workshop for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, the Near East Plant Protection Orga...