FAO Liaison Office for North America

News

02/04/2026
During the Twentieth Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-20), in March,, implementation and capacity development were, once again, highlighted as major foundational pillars of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), enabling contracting parties to apply International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) effectively.
31/03/2026

The 28th session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) has concluded in Minneapolis Minnesota in the United States of America. On the agenda for the session were maximum residue limits (MRLs) of veterinary drugs that had been evaluated by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), extrapolated MRLs derived by CCRVDF, including criteria and exposure model to extrapolated MRLs for edible offal tissues other than liver and kidney, a guidance document for competent authorities to facilitate the application of action levels when there is no Codex MRLs including actions levels, and information on the status of the joint work carried out by CCRVDF and the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) on compound with dual uses as pesticides and veterinary drugs.

26/03/2026
The Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Máximo Torero, warned that the ongoing disruption to the Strait of Hormuz trade corridor is triggering one of the most severe shocks to global commodity flows in recent years, with significant implications for food security, agricultural production, and global markets.
24/03/2026
Thorwald Geuze, co-Chair of the Focus Group on Sea Containers, outlined the framework of regulatory and non-regulatory measures designed to reduce pest contamination in sea containers. The proposals, with short-, medium- and long-term measures, were selected for their feasibility, cost-effectiveness, capacity for global implementation, effectiveness in minimizing the pest risk and low impact on container logistics and supply chain. Together, they demonstrate a strategic commitment to highly practical solutions that facilitate trade while minimizing pest risks.
23/03/2026
The 28th session of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) has opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America. CCRVDF Chairperson, Brandi Robinson, welcomed delegates.
19/03/2026
On 13 March, Haiti officially launched the project “Food Security and Agriculture: Accelerated Adaptation” (SAGA 2), implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in technical and financial partnership with the Government of Québec for the period 2024–2027.
18/03/2026
The Twentieth Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM 20) concluded last week on a high, with governments and plant health leaders reaffirming their commitment to protect global plant resources, facilitate safe trade and strengthen international cooperation under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
18/03/2026
The Government of the Republic of Zambia, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and with support from the Government of the United States of America, has officially launched the Zambia Soil Partnership (ZSP) and the Global Soil Doctors Programme (GSDP) to strengthen national coordination on sustainable soil management and support more productive, resilient and market-oriented agrifood systems in the country.
16/03/2026
Agriculture continues to play a critical role in protecting Ukrainian communities from food insecurity, even as war-related shocks, declining incomes and limited access to inputs place growing pressure on rural livelihoods, according to new assessment released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
09/03/2026
Guidelines formulated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for the World Programme of Census of Agriculture in 2030 were endorsed on 6 March by the UN Statistical Commission at its 57th Session, elevating them to the status of an internationally agreed standard.
06/03/2026
The benchmark measure for world food commodity prices rose in February, ending a five-month downward trend, as higher quotations for wheat, most vegetable oils and several meat types outweighed declines in cheese and sugar prices, according to the new update released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
02/03/2026
At the Senior Officers Meeting of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, the Organization highlighted progress in reducing hunger and mobilizing investments, underscoring the need to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems to address the region’s climate, economic and social challenges.
13/02/2026

Plant pests do not respect borders. In recent years, a growing number of pests have begun spreading faster and farther, affecting crops, ecosystems and livelihoods across regions and in some cases posing risks of global concern. To respond to this challenge, countries, through the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), established the Pest Outbreak Alert and Response System (POARS).

06/02/2026
The measure of world food commodity prices declined in January for the fifth consecutive month, led by lower international quotations for dairy, sugar and meat products, according to the benchmark report released Friday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
26/01/2026
A high-level Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) mission to Haiti and the Dominican Republic this week underscored a central reality for the Caribbean: food security is a shared regional challenge, requiring both life-saving, emergency agricultural action to respond to acute needs as well as cutting-edge prevention and preparedness systems to protect food supply chains.
19/01/2026
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for Gaza confirms that no areas of the Strip are currently classified in famine following the October ceasefire and improved humanitarian and commercial access. This welcome progress remains extremely fragile as the population continues to struggle with massive infrastructure destruction and collapsed livelihoods and local food production, given restrictions on humanitarian operations.
09/01/2026
The benchmark for world food commodity prices fell in December compared to the previous month, as declines in dairy product, meat and vegetable oil quotations more than offset increases in those for cereals and sugar, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported Friday.
06/01/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published its Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine for 2026–2028, outlining priority actions to protect agricultural livelihoods, restore productive capacity and support Ukraine’s agrifood sector.
24/12/2025
More than 72 000 farming and herding families in the West Bank – nearly two-thirds of all agricultural families – urgently require emergency agricultural assistance, according to a new survey published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 
24/12/2025
After a sharp decline in 2023, the global forest products sector saw signs of stabilization in 2024, according to Global forest products facts and figures 2024 , released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The report highlights that global international trade in wood and paper products has regained momentum, with modest growth recorded across most major product groups.