FAO governing Council approves new private sector engagement strategy

In the final report adopted unanimously, Members noted that the Strategic Framework "builds on the momentum and harmonized transformations already taking place in the Organization, including structural reforms, the Hand-In-Hand Initiative and FAO's COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme."
/by

World Soil Day highlights the role of soil biodiversity in boosting food production and nutrition

Soil organisms play a crucial role in boosting food production, enhancing nutritious diets, preserving human health, remediating polluted sites and combating climate change, but their contribution remains largely underestimated, FAO said today in its report on “The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity”.
/by

World Soil Day Global Cerimony

4 December 2020 | 13:00-14:30 CET
Register here

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.

This year's campaign, "Keep soil alive, Protect soil biodiversity" urges us to focus our attention on the workers belowground - from tiny bacteria to agile millipedes and slimy earthworms - all of which contribute to processes that are indispensable to life on Earth.

The WSD ceremony will be held virtually on 4 December with the participation of Mr Qu Dongyu  - FAO Director-General, Ms Elizabeth Maruma Mrema (tbc) - Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity and thousands of soil fans. The winners of the Glinka prize and King Bhumibol WSD award will be announced during the celebration. An interactive quiz will challenge your knowledge of soil biodiversity.

More info available here

/by

International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture can bring huge benefits to the sector, high-level panel says

The Director-General spoke at the High-Level Dialogue on the Establishment of the International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture, an online event FAO hosted to discuss the digital world’s opportunities for agri-food systems with policy makers, farmers’ representatives, business managers and technology companies.
/by

FAO Food Price Index rises sharply

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 105.0 points during the month, up 3.9 percent from October and 6.5 percent higher than its value a year earlier.
/by

FAO Director-General cites inclusiveness, market access and innovations as key to food security in the COVID-19 context

Ensuring the free movement of food across the world and well-functioning markets has been a central pillar of the global response to COVID-19 pandemic but difficulties with access to food at national level still remain, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today at a high-level panel discussion.
/by

Window to prevent famine in Yemen is narrowing, UN agencies warn

Levels of hunger reach record levels, requiring urgent action
/by

Carbon offsetting: A way to reach the Paris Agreement goals

To catalyze ways of accelerating opportunities of increasing carbon sequestration, FAO hosted “Forests and soils: A new opportunity for the Planet”, an online seminar to explore possibilities of carbon markets developed by Costa Rica, a pioneer in the field, for Spanish companies.
/by

FAO and partners advocate for inclusive food systems to combat rural poverty

The event "Transforming agri-food systems and fostering inclusive rural development in the context of COVID-19 to end rural poverty" was held virtually, on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly's Special Session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
/by

New United Nations report reveals the inequality in the geographical distribution of malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean

The United Nations calls for the targeting of new policies and investments in the lagging territories of Latin America and the Caribbean.
/by

The Global Nutrition Cluster Technical Alliance Launch

Wednesday 2nd December, 15:00-16:00 (Geneva Time)
Please register here

The Global Nutrition Technical Alliance (formally the GTAM) warmly invites you to join us for the official launch of the GNC Technical Alliance. 

The GNC Technical Alliance is an initiative to support practitioners to improve the quality of nutrition preparedness, response, and recovery, by enabling and providing coordinated, accessible, and timely technical support through multiple channels.  

The upcoming webinar will officially launch the initiative and provide more detailed information about the ambition, objectives, and activities of the GNC Technical Alliance.  

Guest speakers: Víctor Aguayo - Chief of Nutrition, Associate Director, UNICEF, Kalil Sagno - Nutrition Cluster Coordinator DRC, and Dan Irvine- Senior Director Health and Nutrition,  World Vision International.

The webinar will be hosted in English with French, Spanish, and Arabic Translation available. 

Follow the GNC Technical Alliance on LinkedIn and Facebook or https://ta.nutritioncluster.net/

GNC Technical Alliance brief

/by

Resetting the Food System from Farm to Fork

1 December, 14:00-17:00 (CET)
Register here

Resetting the future of food is possible and with this aim, on December 1st, during an international online dialogue, the Barilla Foundation and Food Tank will present concrete solutions to rethink our food systems from farm to fork.

"Resetting the Food System from Farm to Fork" will highlight the critical role of farmers in feeding the world and managing natural resources, food business in progressing towards the 2030 Agenda, and chefs in re-designing food experiences. The prospects of technology and innovation, the role of food as prevention and the most recent policy developments, including the EU Farm to Fork Strategy, will also be discussed. These discussions will help set the stage for 2021 United Nations Food System Summit to be held in 2021.

More info on the website.

/by