Food and agriculture must play a vital part in reaching a sustainable future

There is a growing realization that food and agriculture must play a vital part in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and that in this context, FAO provides a neutral forum to address global issues of transboundary dimensions, the UN agency’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva said today.
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The Near East and North Africa region needs to step up its efforts to end hunger by 2030

Countries in the Arab region need to set up policies supporting local food production and improve their governance of natural resources if hunger is to be eradicated from the Near East and North Africa by 2030.
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Trailblazers for food security lauded at FAO ceremony

Government ministries in Pakistan and Rwanda, a group of Spanish journalists, a Norwegian research vessel, a group of current and former parliamentarians in Chile, and FAO field staff have been recognized at today’s FAO Awards ceremony, held on the sidelines of the 41st FAO Conference.
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“Triple burden of malnutrition” slows down progress towards Zero Hunger in Europe and Central Asia

Despite the heterogeneity of the region, there is one common challenge related to food security that is present in all countries of Europe and Central Asia - “the triple burden of malnutrition,” representatives of FAO Member Countries heard today at a special event on the sidelines of the UN Agency's Conference.
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Clearing the road ahead to reach Zero Hunger in Asia and the Pacific

Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger has slowed in Asia and the Pacific despite strong economic advances, highlighting the need for concerted policy actions to tackle the increasing complex nature of challenges ahead, Member Countries were told during a side event at FAO Conference.
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Tiny fish are a big deal in Africa’s lakes and rivers

Small freshwater fish around Africa offer a large and neglected opportunity to boost food and nutrition security, according to a new FAO working paper investigating an array of species and related livelihoods that too often are undervalued.
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More must be done to eradicate hunger in Africa

Stepped up and concerted actions are needed in Africa if the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger and the more ambitious Malabo hunger target are to be met, Member Countries were told during an event on the sidelines of the 41st Session of the FAO Conference.
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Renewing political will, a key ingredient to end hunger and malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean

Political will is the fundamental and necessary ingredient to eradicate hunger and all forms of malnutrition - including overweight and obesity - in Latin America and the Caribbean, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said today.
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Consensus, partnerships and teamwork propel FAO to future

A new spirit of consensus, the embracing of partnerships and a new cross-disciplinary teamwork approach to tackling food security challenges are now hallmarks of how the Food and Organization operates, outgoing Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said at the opening of the UN agency’s biennial conference.
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Qu Dongyu of China elected FAO Director-General

Qu Dongyu of China was elected Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today. Qu Dongyu received a total of 108 votes out of 191 cast, constituting a majority in the first round.
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Graça Machel calls for disrupting the agricultural sector to achieve Zero Hunger

Considering the challenges of migration, the scourge of hunger and malnutrition, and the lack of investment in rural development, there is an immediate need to “change the way we do business”, scale up hunger-ending initiatives, and “disrupt the agricultural sector as whole”. This was Graça Machel’s message to participants at the opening of the 41st Session of the FAO Conference on the challenges and opportunities of reaching Zero Hunger.
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FAO Conference – 41st Session

22-29 June 2019
Rome, Italy

The purpose of the FAO Conference is to determine the policy and approve the budget of the Organization and to exercise the other powers conferred upon it by the Constitution, to make recommendations to Member Nations and Associate Members concerning questions relating to food and agriculture, in order for them to be reviewed and implemented through national action; to make recommendations to any international organization regarding any matter pertaining to the purposes of the Organization (Article IV of the Constitution).

The Conference is the sovereign Governing Body of the Organization. It comprises all Members and Associate Members.

During the 41st session of the FAO Conference, FAO's new director-general will be elected by the Organization's member countries. The election will take place at headquarters on Sunday 23 June, and on 1 August, the new director-general will begin their term, which will run for four years until 31 July 2023.

List of documents

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