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...

For today's interview, we speak to Darja Bavdaž Kuret, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations.Slovenia is known as a nation of beekeepers. How does honey farming factor in the country’s economy and trade ties with the rest of the world? Beekeeping in Slovenia is...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in the 2020 Africa Dialogue Series, which took place from 20 to 22 May under the theme “COVID-19 and Silencing the Guns in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”. Dr. Chimimba David Phiri, FAO Sub-regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, and Representative...

In 2019, the 74th United Nations General Assembly designated 21 May as International Tea Day, acknowledging that tea is an important cash crop that plays a significant role in rural development, poverty reduction and food security in developing countries. The first observance of the International Tea Day was...

This year, 20 May – World Bee Day – is taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing new focus to the importance of safe and sustainable food, in which bees and other pollinators have a vital role. The members of the Green Group – Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Iceland, Singapore,...

The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) co-organized in May a virtual briefing for PSIDS Permanent Representatives to the United Nations to address the impacts of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition in the islands and discuss policy responses. The...

For today's interview, we speak to José Singer, Special Envoy of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations Security Council.You have recently presided over the United Nations Security Council. Which would you consider to be the highlights of your presidency and why?  I think that given the unprecedented and unique circumstances that...

“Science, technology and innovation play are critical in addressing global challenges and transforming food systems to sustainably feed the world’s growing population,” said Carla Mucavi, Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office in New York, at the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Digital Conference.  Mucavi went...

COVID-19 is creating significant food security and nutrition challenges that cities worldwide need to respond to and that go beyond the health emergency. According to a recent FAO survey targeting municipalities worldwide and that received responses from over 800 cities in 76 countries, measures taken to contain the spread of...