Sustainable Development Goals Helpdesk

FAO Council and Committees Initiatives towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda: A Year of Progress

The opening of the 175th FAO Council, which ran from 10 to 14 June 2024, in FAO Headquarters.

©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti

19/12/2024

In 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) continued its unwavering commitment to advancing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through strategic decisions made by its governing bodies including the FAO Council and Technical Committees, FAO reinforced its focus on sustainable, inclusive, and science-based solutions to ensure no one is left behind.

 

FAO Council

In 2024, the FAO Council focused on strengthening the integration of science and policy to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Council made significant strides in promoting innovative agricultural practices and climate adaptation strategies, which are based on the latest scientific and are crucial for ensuring sustainable food systems. Acknowledging the growing vulnerability of agrifood systems to climate change, the Council underscored their potential to serve as solutions through innovation and increased investment. The Council placed special emphasis on mobilizing climate finance and facilitated the development of guidelines to enhance agricultural climate resilience—particularly for smallholder farmers. These efforts align closely with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the SDGs under specific focus in 2024 HLPF process.

The 2024 Council also discussed FAO’s progress on water resources management, commending the Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management, which supports SDG 6. The Council called for stronger partnerships and increased resource mobilization to prioritize water management in the context of climate action and food security.


Committee on Agriculture

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu delivers his speech during the opening session of 29th Session of the Committee on Agriculture, which was conducted as a hybrid event from 30 September to 4 October 2024. © FAO/Cristiano Minichiello

In 2024, the Committee on Agriculture made critical decisions that advanced science- and evidence-based solutions for sustainable development. One of the key outcomes was the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Sustainable Use and Management of Plastics in Agriculture, which addresses the environmental impact of plastic use in agriculture. The Committee has endorsed the continuation of this work, with the intention of aligning it with global agreements on plastic pollution and encouraged members to adapt the code of conduct in their national contexts, with the technical support of FAO.

Additionally, the Committee promoted the Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, encouraging FAO Members to implement national, regional, and global policies and action plans that foster cross-sectoral collaboration across agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and aquaculture. This initiative prioritizes inclusivity, especially for marginalized groups and small-scale producers.

The Committee on Agriculture asked FAO to enhance technical and policy support for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity, food security, and nutrition. This approach emphasizes the equal importance of each dimension and the need for balanced, context-specific solutions. FAO was invited to conduct an in-depth study on agrifood systems interventions to identify holistic and integrated solutions that offer multiple benefits. The initiative particularly acknowledges the need to address food security and nutrition challenges in developing countries, where the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss are often most severe.

 

Committee on World Food Security

Josyline Javelosa, Co-Rapporteur, Philippines, Klemen Gamboa, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Food of Guatemala, Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, CFS Chairperson, Adriana Herrera Moreno, CFS Secretary at the 52nd session of the Committee on World Food Security which ran from 21 -25 October 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome.  © FAO/Andrea Spinelli Barrile

In 2024 the Committee on World Food Security focused on several critical areas, including the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024 Report and the development of various policy guidelines.

The committee placed a major emphasis in its activities on strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems in response to rising urbanization, as well as advancing coordinated policy responses to global food crises. Other significant workstreams include promoting decent work in agriculture. It developed Policy Recommendations on Reducing inequalities for food security and nutrition, which aims to address structural disparities that hinder access to food, particularly for vulnerable groups. These recommendations promote evidence-based interventions and targeted efforts to leave no one behind​.

The committee’s work also emphasized the importance of data and innovation in bolstering food security and nutrition systems. This was exemplified by the  newly launched Science, Technology, and Innovation Platform, which aims to support evidence-based policymaking and drive transformative changes in agrifood systems. This portal aims to promote inclusivity and diverse solutions across regions, incorporating traditional knowledge and modern technological advancements.

 

Looking ahead, FAO remains committed to accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals by prioritizing innovation, inclusivity, and partnerships. Together with its Members and global stakeholders, FAO will continue to lead the charge in shaping resilient food systems that meet the challenges of today while securing a better future for generations to come.