News archive 2013

During a high level visit to Malawi, EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General, met with President Joyce Banda to discuss the country's challenges on nutrition and food security and to underline ongoing EU and FAO support in this area.

Farmers and veterinarians across Africa are increasingly using cell phones to issue alerts quickly about possible animal disease outbreaks at a very early stage and to track wide-scale vaccination campaigns. Mobile phone applications are making ‘early warning’ a matter of seconds instead of weeks for animal disease outbreaks, and essential veterinary care can be tracked with pinpoint accuracy and speed.

FAO pays tribute to prominent US food scientist Dr Nevin S. Scrimshaw,who has died at age 95, stating: "He dedicated his life's work to the alleviation of malnutrition and hunger, benefiting the lives of millions of people throughout the developing world. As a one of the original nutrition pioneers, he developed and promoted numerous malnutrition solutions.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) remains one of the greatest threats to sustainable fisheries and related livelihoods. International guidelines developed through an FAO-led process aim to cut down on IUU fishing by improving the accountability of flag states - those countries which register fishing vessels and authorize them to fly their flags.

FAO and the CGIAR Consortium of international agricultural research centres have formed a strategic partnership aimed at boosting the impact of their activities.In a Memorandum of Understanding the two organizations have pledged to engage in "a strategic partnership, building on the institutional strengths of both organizations, in order to increase the effectiveness and impact of their work".

The way certification schemes for biofuels are structured makes it difficult for smallholder producers and many developing countries to participate in export markets, according to a report from FAO. "Biofuels and the Sustainability Challenge", finds that current certification schemes are dominantly designed for large-scale agro-industry.

Equatorial Guinea has donated $30 million to a new solidarity trust fund that aims to mobilize African financial resources in support of strengthening food security in the region. The first donation to the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund was made official in a ceremony at the margins of the third Africa-South America Summit in Malabo, attended by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva.

Quinoa can play an important role in eradicating hunger, malnutrition and poverty, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said at the official launch of the International Year of Quinoa at UN Headquarters.