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FAO expands support for national food security information systems in South Sudan

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

FAO has launched a $9 million project on information for decision making for food and nutrition security. This initiative will assist the government of the Republic of South Sudan in achieving its goal of ensuring food security for all. Information about crop yields, weather patterns and other agriculture-related issues will be included in this new system.

Contribution of forests to food security and nutrition needs more attention

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

16 May 2013, Rome - Governments, civil society and the private sector should ensure and strengthen the contributions of forests, trees and agroforestry systems to food security and nutrition, said participants in the first-ever International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition (13-15 May), organized by FAO.

Forest products critical to fight hunger - including insects

Sun, 12 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Rome, 13 May 2013 – Forests, trees on farms and agroforestry are critical in the fight against hunger and should be better integrated into food security and land use policies, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today at the International Conference on Forests for Food Security and Nutrition in Rome (13-15 May).

Extraordinary UN conference takes historic strides to strengthen chemical safety globally

Fri, 10 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

11 May 2013, Geneva - The three conventions that govern chemicals and hazardous waste safety at the global level concluded their first ever jointly held meetings of the parties late Friday night in Geneva. The historic meeting, attended by nearly two thousand participants from 170 countries, as well as 80 Ministers, adopted 50 separate decisions aimed at strengthening protection against hazardous chemicals and waste.

Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources -- a major accomplishment

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

19 April 2013, Rome - New international standards to help genebanks worldwide conserve plant diversity in a more efficient and cost-effective manner were adopted on Thursday April 18 by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

World’s gene pool crucial for survival

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Rome, 15 April 2013 -- Conserving and making the most of the planet's wealth of genetic resources will be crucial for survival, as people will need to produce sufficient and nutritious food for a growing population, FAO Deputy Director-General Dan Gustafson said today addressing the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

No green economy without blue economy, says FAO

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

12 April 2013, Apia, Samoa/Rome – Efforts to end hunger and fight the effects of climate change in the Pacific Islands will hinge on the success of sustainable development, including wise use of oceans and fisheries, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told ministers from the region today.

FAO calls for ‘Zero Illegal Deforestation’ target

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Mediterranean forests risk being hit hard by climate change – new FAO report - 21 March, 2013 On the first International Day of Forests, celebrated by the United Nations today, FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva proposed that countries support a Zero Illegal Deforestation target in the context of the post-2015 debate.

World not coping well with change in diets, says FAO Director-General

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

15 March 2013, Wageningen, Netherlands - Urbanization, economic growth and other transformations are causing changes in lifestyles and diets in many parts of the world and countries are not coping as well as they could, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told professors and students at Wageningen University and Research Centre today.

U.N. lays foundations for more drought resilient societies

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Geneva, 15 March, 2013 – A top-level United Nations conference has, for the first time, laid the foundations for practical and proactive national drought policies to increase resilience to the world’s most destructive natural hazard, which is being aggravated by climate change.

United Nations launches concerted push for effective drought policies

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

8 March 2013, Geneva/Rome – Droughts cause the deaths and displacement of more people than cyclones, floods and earthquakes combined, making them the world’s most destructive natural hazard. Yet while droughts are expected to increase in frequency, area and intensity due to climate change, effective drought management policies are missing in most parts of the world. Three United Nations institutions have now joined forces to promote the development and adoption of practical and proactive policies at the national level to make drought-prone countries more resilient.

FAO’s support in transforming the agriculture sector in Uganda

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Kampala/Rome - FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva met with Ugandan Vice-President Edward Sekandi to discuss ways to ensure food security for all Ugandans and reduce poverty by supporting rural smallholders in the country's agriculture sector.

FAO hosts panel discussion on “One Billion Hungry: Can we Feed the World?”

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

27 February 2013, Rome – Sir Gordon Conway presented his recently published book, One Billion Hungry: Can we feed the world?, today at FAO headquarters, during a seminar focusing on the urgent need to sustainably increase agricultural production to feed and nourish a growing world population confronted especially by the challenge of a warming climate.

Launch of the International Year of Quinoa

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

UN celebrates Andean “super food”

New York, 20 February 2013 - Quinoa can play an important role in eradicating hunger, malnutrition and poverty, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today at the official launch of the International Year of Quinoa at UN Headquarters.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Evo Morales of Bolivia and First Lady Nadine Heredia Alarcón de Humala of Peru were among the high-level participants in a day-long series of events celebrating the Andean "super food", a highly nutritious, cereal-like crop that is rich in protein and micronutrients.

"Today we are here to recruit a new ally in the fight against hunger and food insecurity --quinoa," said Graziano da Silva, citing the crop's unique nutritional characteristics and adaptability.

Mali: Impending planting season at risk, support to agriculture critical

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

15 February 2013, Rome - With Mali's next agricultural season set to begin in May, there is an urgent need to help displaced farmers return to their lands and resume food production when and where the evolving security situation permits, FAO said today following talks between Malian Minister for Agriculture Baba Berthé and the Organization's Director-General, José Graziano da Silva.

New policies needed to promote agroforestry

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

5 February, 2013, Rome - Millions of people could escape poverty, hunger and environmental degradation if countries put more effort into promoting agroforestry, an integrated approach combining trees with crop or livestock production, FAO said today.

Check out Webinar on Agroforesty Online learning event: 5 February (from 15:30 CET)- 26 February 2013. http://www.fao.org/climatechange/micca/79527/en/

FAO’s José Graziano da Silva at CELAC-EU Summit: "No sustainable development while there is hunger"

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The 26-28 January summit brings together 60 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and the EU "There can be no sustainable development in the world while millions of people go hungry," FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today, referring to the central theme being discussed here by presidents and heads of state of Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union, at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States-EU Summit.

Think, Eat, Save: FAO, UNEP and partners launch global campaign on food waste

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

22 January 2012, Geneva/Rome - Simple actions by consumers and food retailers can dramatically cut the 1.3 billion tonnes of food lost or wasted each year and help shape a sustainable future, according to a new global campaign to cut food waste launched today by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and partners.

Call for more responsible investments in agriculture to eradicate hunger and poverty

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

19 January 2013, Berlin - The German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Ilse Aigner, and the Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General José Graziano da Silva have called for a significant increase in responsible investments in agriculture to eradicate hunger and feed a growing world population.

Investments in agriculture are still too low in those regions where rural poverty and hunger are most severe, Aigner and Graziano da Silva stressed today after meeting ahead of the Agriculture Ministers' Berlin Summit 2013.”

Sowing the seeds of food security in South Sudan

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

15 January 2013, Rome - A new programme in the Republic of South Sudan is helping vulnerable farmers to improve their livelihoods by boosting the quality of the seeds used to produce key crops.