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FAO defines Decent Rural Employment (DRE) as work that provides a living income and reasonable working conditions. Work should be remunerative and dignified and should enable people to provide for themselves and their families. Workers should be able to perform their tasks under safe conditions and have voice in the work place. Being central to its mission, FAO actively supports countries to promote decent employment in rural areas. This fact sheet breaks down the definition of DRE and presents it in a easy-to-understand format.

Les présentes "Directives volontaires visant à assurer la durabilité de la pêche artisanale dans le contexte de la sécurité alimentaire et de l’éradication de la pauvreté" ont été rédigées comme complément au Code de conduite de la FAO pour une pêche responsable de 1995 (le Code). Elles ont pour objet de donner des orientations complémentaires concernant la pêche artisanale dans l’esprit des principes généraux et des dispositions du Code, et ainsi de favoriser la visibilité, la reconnaissance et l’amélioration du rôle de la pêche artisanale et de contribuer aux efforts consentis sur les plans mondial et national pour éradiquer la [...]

A substantial proportion of the food produced for human consumption is lost through decreases in its quantity or quality, or wasted through being discarded when still fit for consumption. Food losses and waste have negative impacts on the environment, natural resource sustainability, and food and nutrition security. They also represent a loss of economic value for actors in the food supply chain. Value addition through processing and preservation is one of the avenues for reducing food loss and mitigating its negative effects. A wide range of challenges limit value addition by small and medium agro- industries in developing countries. These [...]

This publication “School feeding and possibilities for direct purchases from family farming in Latin American countries” contributes to the articulation of the sectors involved with school feeding, in the search for alternatives for the institutionalization and strengthening of school feeding policies in the countries; it is also hoped that in the medium and long term SFPs can contribute to the human right to food (HRF) and to sustainable human development.

Innovative and integrated actions to modernize and facilitate the transformation from subsistence to commercial agriculture are foremost on Ethiopia’s agenda. Initiatives to address soil depletion with the end goal of sustainably increasing productivity, building resilience in efforts to promote food sufficiency of vulnerable households, and tapping livestock sector potential to generate foreign exchange, are just three of the key policy trends that have emerged over the 2007─2013 period in Ethiopia. For more country policy briefs by FAPDA please see here.

According to FAO, almost one-third of food produced for human consumption – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes per year – is either lost or wasted globally. Food losses and waste (FLW) impact both food security and nutrition and the sustainability of food systems, in their capacity to ensure good quality and adequate food for this generation and future generations. This report adopts a systemic perspective to analyze the impacts of FLW on the sustainability of food systems and on food security and nutrition. It reviews the wide range of causes of FLW, identifying broad categories and levels of causes. The report is deliberately oriented towards action. [...]

Les ressources génétiques forestières (RGF) sont les matériaux transmissibles entretenus au sein des espèces d’arbres et de plantes ligneuses ou entre ces espèces, qui possèdent une valeur économique, environnementale, scientifique ou sociétale actuelle ou potentielle. Alors qu’elles jouent un rôle crucial dans l’adaptation et la protection de nos écosystèmes, de nos paysages et de nos systèmes de production, elles sont soumises à des pressions croissantes et font l’objet d’une exploitation non viable. Ce Plan d’action mondial définit 27 priorités stratégiques regroupées en quatre domaines: 1) amélioration de la disponibilité de l’information sur les RGF et de l’accès à celle-ci; 2) conservation [...]

Fish plays a key role for food security. It is a primary source of protein and essential nutrients. Fisheries, aquaculture and related activities provide income and livelihoods for numerous communities across the world, including small-scale fisheries. The growing demand for fish questions the sustainability of marine fisheries and aquaculture, now a fundamental supplier of fish. The report considers the environmental, social and economic challenges faced by all actors towards a sustainable supply of fish, sustainable livelihoods of fish-dependent communities and an equitable access to fish for the good nutrition of all populations worldwide. It presents policy-oriented analysis and recommendations addressed [...]

This paper is an attempt to bring together the thinking on nutrition and resilience from a food and agriculture perspective and to discuss the linkages between the two agendas from a conceptual, strategic and operational perspective. The paper argues that good nutrition is both an essential “input” for resilience and an outcome of resilience. It highlights key areas of convergence between the two concepts as well as opportunities to enhance the nutritional impact of resilience building programming in the context of the food and agriculture sector. Building on the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s resilience strategy, this paper then [...]

The publication was prepared based on information provided by 86 countries, outcomes from regional and subregional consultations and commissioned thematic studies. It includes: an overview of definitions and concepts related to Forest Genetic Resources (FGR) and a review of their value; a description of the main drivers of changes; the presentation of key emerging technologies; an analysis of the current status of FGR conservation, use and related developments; recommendations addressing the challenges and needs. By the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.