FAO collaborates with the Eurasian Economic Union on food security

Experts from countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) confirmed intention to develop general principles and approaches in assessing food security of the EAEU members states based on the FAO methodology.

The working meeting of the Group of Experts organized by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on September 2 was attended by the Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation Mr Oleg Kobiakov, officers of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and experts specializing on these issues employed by EEC and representing EAEU countries.

The participants discussed methodologies for calculating each of the food security indicators in accordance with FAO definitions and standards. “The FAO methodology is based on four pillars of food security: availability, access, stability and usage. For each component, a set of indicators has been developed that allows monitoring in dynamics and comparison between countries. This methodology is constantly being improved and developed,” noted Mr Kairat Nazhmidenov, leading expert of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and FAO Representative in Kazakhstan, and Mr Georgy Kvinikadze, Regional Statistician.

The work is carried out by FAO and EEC within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both organizations on November 12, 2013, and the Action Plan for 2019 – 2023 for the implementation of the Memorandum.

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FAO is a UN specialized agency with a global mandate to combat hunger, ensure food security and sustainable development of the agri-food sector, and «host» the relevant Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2).

FAO monitors food security globally, tracking 30 indicators in 204 countries and territories.