News

Research shows the potential of a sustainable and circular bioeconomy to transform agrifood systems in the region and throughout the world

The Cooperation Review Meeting between FAO REU and CJN, held in Budapest on 20 March 2025, strengthened the collaboration and focused particularly on how science-based innovations can enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. 

On 28 February 2025, Kyrgyzstan officially joined the Green Agriculture Initiative, an initiative launched in 2022 by the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU), as a  pilot country, marking a significant milestone in its transition to a green economy.

Unfinished biodiversity negotiations are back on the table.  After a groundbreaking session in Cali, Colombia, delegations are reconvening in Rome to tackle unfinished business that will be critical for biodiversity action – with transforming agrifood systems emerging as a central element for global success.

Kyrgyzstan is taking significant steps toward a sustainable and climate-resilient future by launching the initiative “Greening Kyrgyzstan’s Economy: Know More, Act Better, Enhance Results.”

The development of green supply chains (GSCs) is crucial for reducing the environmental footprint of agrifood systems. By adopting eco-friendly technologies and practices at every stage, from food production to disposal, GSCs aim to minimize waste, enhance resource efficiency and lower GHG emissions, fostering a more sustainable agrifood system. In sum, GSCs address climate change and environmental degradation, both of which require urgent attention. Moreover, for value chain actors, GSCs pave the way for environmental certification and thus for market opportunities.

The FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is launching a Call for Innovations, Solutions, and Best Practices to enrich the Green Practices Repository on the Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture.

The regional event – “Frugal and Inclusive: Community-led Nature-driven Innovation for Greening Agrifood Systems” – was part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Science and Innovation Forum 2024, with its focus on “Inclusive and Community-Driven Innovations” aimed at transforming agrifood systems while leaving no one behind.

Welcome to the second edition of our green agriculture newsletter, fresh off the summer break. As always, we bring you a curated selection of recent actions from the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, along with new publications that highlight our ongoing efforts to promote green agriculture for the transformation of agrifood systems.

The event, held in Georgia from 11–13 June 2024 and hosted by UNDP and BIOFIN, gathered over 60 experts and government representatives from Europe, Asia, and the Pacific to explore strategies for integrating biodiversity into national financial planning and agricultural practices.
This article delves into the synergies between financial solutions for greening agrifood systems and national commitments to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.