FAO and IFOAM – Organics International renew partnership to scale agroecology and organic agrifood systems

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and IFOAM – Organics International have renewed their strategic partnership, signing a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the global transition to sustainable agrifood systems. The signing took place on 14 October 2025, at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

The renewed collaboration, set against a backdrop of increasing climate shocks and food insecurity, establishes a strategic framework for the two organizations to pursue shared goals through joint action. The partnership will directly support rural communities—particularly smallholder farmers, forest dwellers, and fishers—while building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems at all levels.

“At the heart of this partnership are the millions of farmers and rural communities whose innovation, and resilience will drive this sustainable change,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General.

“Agroecological and organic practices are among the approaches that help strengthen livelihoods, restore ecosystems and protect our planet,” she added. 

The new MoU builds on a foundation of years of successful collaboration and will guide joint initiatives to promote knowledge exchange, strengthen value chains, and advance policy dialogue in support of inclusive and climate-resilient agrifood systems. Under the agreement, FAO and IFOAM – Organics International will:

• Promote knowledge sharing and capacity development on agroecology and organic agriculture;
• Strengthen value chains and market access for small-scale producers;
• Support biodiversity conservation and efforts to reduce food loss and waste;
• Collaborate on policy advocacy and the dissemination of good practices;
• Expand Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) and support the Mountain Partnership Products initiative.

“This partnership reflects the growing recognition that strengthening our food systems requires more and better alliances,” said Ravi R. Prasad, Executive Director of IFOAM – Organics International. “No single actor can achieve sustainability in isolation. It is only by working together, across institutions, sectors, and regions, that we can realize our shared goals of healthier people, thriving ecosystems, and fair livelihoods.”

The collaboration will directly contribute to global goals outlined in the UN Decade of Family Farming and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative. Joint activities will include webinars and training programs through platforms such as the Agroecology Knowledge Hub and the Family Farming Knowledge Platform.

With its global reach and shared vision for innovation, inclusiveness, and sustainability, the renewed FAO–IFOAM partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing agroecology and organic agriculture as pathways toward climate resilience, gender equality, and equitable rural development — ensuring that small-scale producers remain at the heart of food systems transformation.