On 20 February 2025, FAO Deputy Director-General – and Former Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Italy – Maurizio Martina, addressed the 19th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in Rome, marking an important milestone in fostering dialogue and cooperation among Mediterranean nations.  The Plenary Session featured a distinguished lineup of high-level participants for a discourse on regional cooperation and collective action. Opening the session, H.E. Hon. Enaam Mayara, PAM President emphasized the need for unity and support among member countries, particularly in light of the recent ceasefire in Gaza.  H.E. Antonio Tajani, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister...

FAO, in collaboration with the Parliament of Malaysia and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), organizes a National Parliamentary Briefing on Promoting ASEAN Guidelines on Responsible Investment in Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (ASEAN RAI). With technical support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), this briefing represents a significant advancement in strengthening parliamentary action to drive responsible and sustainable investment in food, agriculture, and food system in the country. Under Malaysia’s during its AIPA and ASEAN Presidency, this briefing emphasizes the vital role of parliamentary oversight in ensuring that the ASEAN RAI Guidelines are effectively implemented within national policies and legislative...

On 4 February 2025, the Italian Senate's Agriculture Committee held a parliamentary hearing with representatives from FAO, part of an ongoing investigation by the Italian Government into the effects of climate change on agriculture and the measures needed to adapt to these changing realities.President of the Committee, Senator Luca de Carlo, introduced the hearing and welcomed the FAO representatives, expressing gratitude for their participation. FAO’s Collaboration with Parliamentary Networks Dr Jean-Léonard Touadi, FAO Special Coordinator for Parliamentary Networks, thanked the Italian Parliament and the Agriculture Committee for their support and active participation in the first two Global Parliamentary Summits against...

From 21 to 24 January 2025, the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) and the parliamentary conference on Francophone cooperation in sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate change response were held in Cân Tho, Viet Nam. This significant event brought together high-level representatives, including Trân Thanh Mân, President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam Hilarion Etong, President of the APF; Caroline St-Hilaire, Administrator of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF); and Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO Representative in Viet Nam, along with 120 participants from some sixty Francophone countries.Warmly welcoming the delegations, Trân Thanh...

In a significant step for sustainable agriculture, the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (PARLATINO) unanimously approved the Model Law for the Promotion of Agroecology during its General Assembly, held on 5 December 2024 at the PARLATINO headquarters in Panama. The Model Law aims to foster sustainable and resilient agricultural practices throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, with an innovative framework that is poised to drive meaningful strides towards achieving food security and sustainable development. FAO provided technical support in developing the Model Law, building on FAO’s 2021 publication, “Legislate to Promote Agroecology in the Latin America and Caribbean Region,” which was prepared...