Experts from across the world shared insights during a high-level event on the implementation of the OCOP initiative, held on 15 October 2025 as part of FAO’s 80th anniversary celebration. The event highlighted how 18 demonstration countries are promoting various Special Agricultural Products with strong potential for sustainable development while nourishing communities and empowering farmers.

Officials and experts from 12 countries attended a September workshop in China on the GIES methodology, co-organized by FAO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. GIES applies GIS, remote sensing, big data, and IoT to trace product origins and monitor production, strengthening value chains for Special Agricultural Products under FAO’s OCOP initiatives. 

Senior officials from the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce, along with agricultural trade experts from six South Asian countries, convened virtually for a regional consultation aimed at boosting exports of special agricultural products under the FAO OCOP initiative. 

The pilot aims to support environmentally sustainable production, strengthen digital traceability, and enhance market access for large cardamom in Nepal — bringing scientific expertise, government leadership, and grassroots energy together. Large cardamom is a globally recognized spice which holds immense potential for climate-smart livelihoods, value-added exports, and premium international markets. 

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu set out a multi-layered vision for the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable as he addressed the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 on the last day of an official visit to China after a series of bilateral meetings. The trip also saw visits to innovative farms and research institutions helping to put the transformation into practice and advance the Four Betters agenda - better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.

More than 60 government officials, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders of agrifood systems from 19 Asia and the Pacific countries have completed a dynamic four-day training to maximize the nutritional value of special agricultural products under the OCOP Initiative. This workshop combined online and on-site sessions to equip participants with expertise in food processing, safety, and quality enhancement.

FAO Deputy Director-General Ms Beth Bechdol and Special Advisor to the FAO Director-General Mr Xia Jingyuan visited China to witness the progress of the FAO initiative, which aims to enhance sustainable development of the tea value chain.

A workshop in Nanjing, China kickstarted the development of a comprehensive roadmap to promote special agricultural products in Pacific Island countries under the FAO One Country One Priority Product initiative.

A high-level delegation from the Government of Nepal, headed by the Honourable RamNath Adhikari, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, met with the secretariat of the OCOP Initiative in Plant Production and Protection Division on 18 October 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome to strategize on strengthening the value chain of large cardamom in Nepal.

Fourteen Asia-Pacific countries gained critical skills in geo-environmental traceability and sustainability for special agricultural products through the recent International Capacity Building Workshop on Geographical Indications Environment & Sustainability (GIES) held on 11-21 September 2024 in China. 

The transformation of sustainable agrifood systems requires a more coordinated response across multiple policy levels, particularly to ensure food security and livelihoods in the Asia-Pacific region, FAO reported at the OCOP second regional organizing group meeting in China.

Nutritionists, food industry professionals and government representatives from 19 Asia-Pacific countries took part in the Capacity Building ...

FAO hosted a webinar and a fair to promote the processing and marketing of jackfruit in Bangladesh. The event took place from July 4-6 at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), aiming to foster entrepreneurship in both fresh and processed jackfruit products.

Bhutan has organized a two-day Training of the Trainers to build the capacities of the extension staff in quinoa production. The training focused on advanced production technologies, marketing strategies, and addressing challenges related to quinoa cultivation, with the goal of promoting it as a key crop for food security and economic growth in Bhutan.

FAO’s One Country One Priority Product initiative supports beekeepers and honey producers in Rwanda and Viet Nam 

The Prime Minister of Bhutan launched the OCOP initiative in the country during the Bhutan Agrifood Trade and Investment Forum on 15 May 2024, selecting quinoa as its special agricultural product.

Key stakeholders and representatives from 11 project countries convened virtually to launch a new project aimed at expanding the FAO One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative. The inception workshop, held on 3 April 2024, focused on discussing project objectives, expected outputs and major activities, as well as reviewing the detailed work plan and budget for the project implementation. 

Science and innovative technologies can speed up efficient, resilient, sustainable and inclusive development of value chains of geographically-specific special agricultural products (SAPs), helping bring about much-needed transformation of agrifood systems, enhancing smal...

FAO and China’s oldest land and environmental research institute signed an agreement today to harness an innovative geographical and environmental traceability tool that will  link consumers and growers of special agricultural products (SAPs) to promote their unique qualities and cultural importance.