FAO engagement in the coordination efforts for the upcoming 2021 Financing for Sustainable Development Report (FSDR) remains strong. On 9 October 2020, the FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, and Deputy Director-General, Beth Bechdol, participated in the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development, chaired by UN-DESA Under-Secretary General, Liu Zhenmin, where...

In 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) marks 75 years of presence in the United Nations General Assembly forums. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, this year’s session (UNGA75) relied on technology and the upkeep of physical distancing measures to drive home the value of collective...

We live in a world where there’s enough food to feed all people everywhere; yet 690 million go hungry and another three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. At the core of this conundrum lies the issue of food loss and waste, which the UN has brought to the...

Should I scrape leftovers into the bin or use them as ingredients for tomorrow’s meal? Did I check my fridge before going grocery shopping to avoid overbuying? Are odd-shaped fruit and vegetables good to eat? Every day we are faced with choices that can take a significant and unnecessary toll on...

President Xi Jinping announced the funding in video address to the UN General Assembly 22 September 2020, Rome - FAO welcomed an announcement today by Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, that his country will support the UN agency's South-South Cooperation (SSC) efforts with an additional $50 million in funding. "We are...

17 September 2020, New York/ Rome -  FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, today warned the United Nations Security Council that Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Yemen were at risk of a looming famine and appealed for an urgent and united humanitarian response to save lives and livelihoods. "Tragically, there are many more situations...

The 75th session will be held from 15 September to 2 October 2020. The overall theme is 75th anniversary of the United Nations ­–  The future we want, the UN we need: Reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism. FAO will participate at high level meetings and is organizing side events on: - the Global Network...

An Opportunity for Transformation by Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu, United Nations High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States   There is a saying, “May you live in interesting times.” As 2020 continues its weary path around the sun, we can all agree that when times get too interesting,...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in the 2020 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Management Segment, which was scaled down and held virtually on 21 July in an effort to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Among other topics, this year’s ECOSOC Management Segment...

In light of limitations on in-person meetings and international travel due to COVID-19, the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2020 was held virtually from 7 to 16 July. This year's theme was "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development". In a series of official...

The Permanent Missions of Chile and India to the UN and FAO co-hosted an event on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum 2020 to highlight the key role of fruits and vegetables in contributing to nutrition, health, sustainable production systems, income and employment generation, as well as other relevant...

“Today more than ever, and in the spirit of ‘Building Back Better’, there is a need to give urgent attention to the threats and risks affecting mountain livelihoods and ecosystems,” noted FAO New York Director Carla Mucavi, delivering opening remarks at  a High-Level Political Forum 2020 side event on sustainable...

For today's interview, we speak to Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General.The United Nations Secretary-General has acknowledged that COVID-19 could lead to a “global food emergency”, while the President of the General Assembly has referred to a “looming food crisis”. How is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Uinted...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Director-General, Qu Dongyu, spoke in a virtual high-level meeting focusing on “Trends, Options and Strategies in Poverty Eradication Across the World”. Convened by the President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the event also...

“The battle for sustainable development in Africa must be fought and won in the agriculture and rural sectors,” emphasized Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, at the virtual interactive dialogue “Sustainable Agriculture and Development in Africa: Lessons learned from COVID-19 for Building...

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office to the United Nations in New York serves as a link between FAO and the United Nations System. Located just across the United Nations Secretariat building, our office has welcomed many colleagues from around the world who come to attend meetings in...

The Group of Friends of Food Security and Nutrition hosted a virtual high-level meeting to discuss the findings of the Secretary General’s Policy Brief on The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition. The brief forms part of a series that lays out a vision for how the international...

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has launched a Policy Brief to address The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was the penholder, in collaboration with the World Food Programme, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United...

For today's interview, we speak to Edward Seidler, President of the Former Food and Agriculture Organization and Other United Nations Staff Association (FFOA).Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected FFOA’s operations? What measures have been taken to overcome constraints? FFOA's membership is global and represents the interests of approximately 1700 United Nations (UN)...

On 2 June, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in a webinar organized by the Women Forward International, in collaboration with the Goldman School of Public Policy (University of California, Berkeley) and the White Pony Express non-profit organization. The virtual event addressed the problem of...