16-18 December 2024, Al Ahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) hosted the 1st International Forum for Saudi Reef in Al Ahsa from December 16-18, 2024, aimed to discuss the role of sustainable rural agricultural development programmes in empowering rural communities and strengthening their role in food security and rural communities livelihoods. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), hosted a joint event during the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) entitled ‘Regional Water Scarcity Initiative Programme: Enhancing Knowledge Across Sectors by Bridging the Data Gap’.

As part of efforts to promote sustainable environmental initiatives, the Sultanate of Oman hosted a team of experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) specializing in forests, wetlands and climate change. The visit included field tours to several mangrove forest sites across Oman, where the current ecological conditions of these vital ecosystems were assessed, and scientific expertise was exchanged.

At the NENA Youth Breakfast, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), youth leaders from the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region gathered to amplify their voices in addressing agrifood system challenges, land degradation, and climate-related issues. Held during the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), the gathering highlighted the critical role of youth as drivers of change in shaping resilient and sustainable food systems. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region today. This comprehensive roadmap addresses the pressing soil challenges that threaten agricultural productivity, food security, and environmental resilience.

The COP16 Pavilion in the Blue Zone hosted a critical panel discussion on “Strengthening soil health and climate resilience: sustainable forest and land management in Sub-Saharan Africa and West Asia.” The event, jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), brought together leading experts and policymakers to address the region’s escalating challenges of land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate impacts. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) continues to provide emergency relief combined with development and peacebuilding efforts in conflict-affected countries in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

A high-level delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), led by Mr. Anping Ye, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST), concluded an official visit to Oman aimed at enhancing collaboration in the apiculture sector and exploring opportunities for agricultural innovation.

The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to take place from 2-13 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will focus on “Our Land. Our Future” as it celebrates its 

FAO joined the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General and humanitarian partners in calling for unrestricted and safe access to deliver at-scale emergency agricultural aid to prevent the spread of famine and further loss of lives. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol spoke today at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to enhance humanitarian response in Gaza.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq and the Iraqi Ministries of Agriculture and Health held two meetings dedicated to discussing updating animal health legislation to be in line with international reference standards, as well as to address legislative overlaps between the Public Health Law and the Animal Health Law.

The 2024 United Nations Desertification Conference (COP16) hosted by the Government of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh is a landmark event aims at renewing global commitments to restoring agricultural land, which is essential for transforming agrifood systems to benefit both people and the planet.

With more than 40 percent of the world’s land already degraded, the future of our planet faces critical challenges in feeding a growing global population. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have highlighted their support to smallholder farmers in accessing adaptive technologies to bridge the gap between global innovation and local application, enhancing resilience across diverse agricultural landscapes. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and member countries have renewed their commitment to controlling the desert locust in the Central Region through continuous cooperation and joint initiatives while improving operational mechanisms.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collabor...

November 11-12, 2024 – Representatives from seven Red Sea coastal countries convened in Jeddah for a validation meeting on the Global Environment Facility (GEF) project titled, "Promoting Sustainable Fisheries Management in the Red Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (RedSeaFish)." Led by the Food and ...

The FAO Virtual Learning Center (VLC) of the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) has launched a comprehensive online course aimed at addressing one of the region's priority animal diseases: Sheep Pox and Goat Pox (SGP). The course, hosted on the VLC’s Moodle platform, is d...

In a significant step reflecting its commitment to achieving food security and agricultural sustainability in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is participating in the development of the Strategic Directions of NEPPO for the period 2025-2035.