Some of the most innovative ways being used to improve agricultural practices involve nuclear technology. Nuclear applications in agriculture rely on the use of isotopes and radiation techniques to combat pests and diseases, increase crop production, protect land and water resources, ensure food safety and authenticity, and increase livestock production. FAO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have been expanding [...]

It is well known that forests, especially rainforests, are key allies in our fight against climate change as they absorb greenhouse gas emissions. But did you know that oceans are the earth’s main buffer against climate change? In fact, about 25 percent of the greenhouse gases that we emit actually gets absorbed by the oceans, as does over 90 percent [...]

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) or sheep and goat plague is a highly contagious animal disease affecting small ruminants. An estimated 300 million families who rely on small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, as a source of food and income are at risk of losing their livelihoods and may be forced to migrate, particularly in areas where food insecurity, other resource shortages [...]

Eradicating world hunger can only be achieved if food is safe, nutritious and of good quality. Eating unsafe food increases the chances of contracting diseases and can be, in some cases, deadly. Unsafe food can also lead to rejections causing food to be wasted, which then impacts on food security. One thing is certain: there can be no food security [...]

Last year, Ashmita Thapa’s husband left their hometown in southern Nepal to find work in Saudi Arabia. He had been working as a farmer and used to be able to grow enough food for the family. But now, Ashmita explains, the yields are poorer and poorer. “This is a part of climate change,” she adds. “There isn’t as much rain as [...]

Ghost fishing. Sounds eerie, right? Unfortunately, it is indeed as eerie as it sounds. Ghost fishing occurs when lost or abandoned fishing gear stays in the ocean and traps fish or other marine life, indiscriminately killing whatever it catches. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), as it is known officially, is being recognized as a topic that we must [...]

It is often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But when it comes to fruit and vegetables, one third of them never even make it to our grocery store shelves because they are rejected on their way from the farm to the store. While supermarkets have a part to play in this, we must also examine [...]

“The anniversary of my brother’s death is on the 26 of July. He was killed 27 years ago,” says Robinson Salas. Robinson is one of the millions of people who had been displaced from their homes and their lands by the armed conflict between the Government of Colombia and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebel group. This 52-year [...]

When one ponders the vast stretches of wheat being culled from the swaths of farmland in the Ukraine the mind doesn’t quickly leap to the thought of a pastry shop in Cairo. Or a bakery in Indonesia.  

Biodiversity may sound complicated, but it’s a fairly simple concept: the existence of many different types of plants and animals makes the world a healthier and more productive place. A mix of genetics, species and habitats allows Earth’s ecosystems to keep up with challenges like population growth and climate change. Biodiversity is important to us because it plays a crucial [...]

With the health of our oceans at stake, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has quickly become a monumental problem. The term “IUU fishing” is used for any fishing activities that operate outside of the law. There are many types of IUU fishing, for example, fishing without license or authorization, not accurately reporting the fish caught, fishing in prohibited areas [...]

Oceans cover 70 percent of our planet. But did you know that 40 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by what is known as our common oceans?  

Elvis Cortés Hernández grabs his lunch and sits down with his friends. We’re at the General Lázaro Cárdenas school in Ajalpan, deep in the heart of Mexico’s Puebla province and the ten–year–old is chatting about the school’s vegetable garden, one element of its progressive food policy. “I like to eat in the school dining room because they give me carrots, [...]

Diets vary greatly from place to place based on food availability, eating habits and culture. Yet, when it comes to food, there is a lot that we know about what is and what is not good for us and this is true no matter where we live. Societal changes, however, are making these choices more complicated. While many countries are [...]

Pulses are highly versatile ingredients to cook with—as either a main meal or a side dish, they are the perfect complement to even the boldest of flavours. But just like any new type of food, convincing the pickiest eaters in the family to try these nutritious beans, peas and lentils can sometimes prove difficult.  

A review of FAO’s fight against hunger and malnutrition and challenges ahead with the participation of José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO. 

Where: Sheikh Zayed Centre at FAO headquarters 

When: Friday, 26th [...]

The latest FAO + Switzerland partnership report shows the catalytic achievements and innovative solutions of FAO’s collaboration with one of our strongest partners.

From 2008 to 2018, Switzerland supported FAO in [...]

The 2019 Report of the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) examines the role of the TCP to deliver FAO technical assistance for agriculture, food and nutrition in response to countries’ most [...]

11 and 18 December 2019, Rome –A Farmer’s Market at FAO’s premises will take place on Wednesday, 11 December and on Wednesday 18 December 2019 from 12.00 [...]

The farmers will offer seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables to around 3000 people - including employees, contractors, delegates and visitors - that enter the FAO headquarters every day.

Centro Agroalimentare [...]

As of the start of the New Year, the Farmers’ Market will be back at FAO’s premises – Atrium - on January 29^th  from 12.00- 16.00 hours.

All of [...]

Buy fresh and seasonal produce at the Farmers’ Market on
Wednesday 26 February from 12.00 – 16.00 hours, and be sure to visit the [...]

As the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 continues to spread, questions have been raised about the potential impact on food supply and availability and on livelihoods around the globe.

FAO

These parks are less popular, but no less spectacular

Ancient trees are disappearing from protected national forests around the world. A look inside $100 billion market for stolen wood

How the beloved figure has become a lightning rod in a heated environmental debate

A firefly mating ritual turns into a synchronized light show

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has moved online due to the novel coronavirus pandemic

Harjo, a member of the Muskogee Creek Nation, says the appointment "honors the place of Native people in this country, the place of Native people’s poetry"

The USS Silversides is patrolling the Pacific during WWII when it finds itself in a terrifying situation: one of its torpedoes has jammed

On February 9, 1945, two submarines are poised to engage in a direct, underwater confrontation. It's the first - and only - underwater submarine dog fight

British Auxiliary Units were trained to sabotage the enemy in case of German invasion

Built nearly 4,700 years ago as a tomb for the pharaoh Djoser, the structure underwent more than a decade of on-and-off restorations