The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with regional partners, today launched the first cohort of the Youth Action Leadership for Agrifood Awareness and Systems Transformation (YALA FAST) programme in Rabat, Morocco. This is under the FAO’s Regional Leadership Development Academy (RLA). Held from 30 June to 3 July 2025, this first-of-its-kind initiative aims to cultivate the young leaders in agrifood systems of the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a large-scale emergency seed distribution campaign targeting 1.5 million farming households – or approximately 7.5 million people – across 17 out of Sudan’s 18 states.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a successful regional webinar to introduce and promote the Event Mobile Application (EMA-i+), an innovative tool designed to enhance real-time animal disease reporting across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region...

The Sultanate of Oman and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have formalized a groundbreaking partnership with the signing of a Host Country Agreement to establish permanent FAO representation in Oman, marking a new chapter in regional food security cooperation.

The food security situation in the Government-controlled areas of southern Yemen is dire, with nearly half of the population acutely food insecure and struggling to find their next meal. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF have warned that the food insecurity crisis is likely to worsen in the months ahead. 

On Desertification and Drought Day (DDD) 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is calling attention to the urgent need for strategic investment in land restoration to address the mounting environmental and socio-economic challenges in the Near East and North A...

 A new study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has revealed concerning levels of agricultural land degradation, particularly in the Arab region, where more than 46 million hectares of agricultural land—two-thirds of the 70 million hectares affected by human-induced degradation—are at risk.  Published in the MDPI journal Agriculture, the study stresses the urgent need to restore degraded lands and improve food security.

The Near East Network on Forest Health and Invasive Species (NENFHIS) convened its first focal point meeting of 2025 through a virtual webinar, drawing participants from across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region to discuss the growing threats to forest health and the urgent need for coordinated regional action.

Under the patronage and in the presence of Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani, and with the participation of WFP Representative and Country Director in Lebanon Mr. Matthew Hollingworth, Acting FAO Representative in Lebanon Ms. Veronica Quattrola and a number of experts and officia...

RAMALLAH –  As part of efforts to promote the agrifood sector’s resilience amid the emergency situation in the West Bank, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture recently convened more than 35 experts for a national workshop on sustainable agricultural production and responsible consumption.

On May 20, 2025, FAO Algeria celebrated World Bee Day alongside committed partners: the Embassies of Slovenia, the Netherlands, and the European Union. This awareness-raising day was marked by two key moments, combining learning, dialogue, and commitment to pollinators—true pillars of food security and biodiversity.

On 12 May 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted a regional webinar on “Exploring FAO’s Food Loss Application (FLAPP): Challenges and opportunities for tackling food loss in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.” The event brought together experts, partners, and stakeholders from across the region to explore how digital innovation can drive evidence-based action on food loss.

Interpretation available in all six FAO official languages, All colleagues are welcome to attend in-person (Green room) The Grand Opening can also be followed via webcast (Monday 3 June 9:00 to 12:00 CEST)

In a landmark move to address interconnected health threats, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO), and World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) have joined forces to advance the One He...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2025, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Al Ain from 28 to 31 May 2025. The event, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, aims to strengthen the United Arab Emirates’ agricultural sector and advance sustainable food security.

As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience and promote inclusive rural development, the Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) convened a regional webinar titled “Rural Advisory Services in Times of Crisis: Collective Efforts for Rehabilitation and Building Resilience in the NENA Region.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a virtual regional dialogue to explore how farmer registries can support more inclusive agricultural and social protection policies in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

As part of his visit to Baghdad, Iraq, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Mr. QU Dongyu, together with key Iraqi ministries, today launched the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded project titled "Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Iraq" (SRVALI)".

Less than five percent of the Gaza Strip’s cropland area remains available for cultivation, according to the latest geospatial assessment carried out by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), further deteriorating food production capacity and exacerbating  the risk of famine in the area.

As part of his official visit to Algeria, Mr. Abdelhakim El Waer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, held a series of official meetings on Monday, 20 May 2025,