Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Introduction | – Establishment: Founded on 16 October 1945, the FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. – Purpose: To achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. – Headquarters: Rome, Italy. |
| Objectives | – Eradicate Hunger, Food Insecurity, and Malnutrition: Work towards eliminating hunger and ensuring food security and improved nutrition worldwide. – Eliminate Poverty and Drive Forward Economic and Social Progress for All: Support economic and social development to improve living standards, especially in rural areas. – Sustainable Management and Utilization of Natural Resources: Promote the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. |
| Members as of December 2024 | – Composition: The FAO comprises 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union. – Recent Memberships: As of December 2024, no new members have been added since the previous year. |
| Reports/Indices | – The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI): An annual report providing updates on the global food security and nutrition situation, including the latest estimates on hunger and malnutrition. – The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA): An annual flagship publication offering comprehensive insights into major issues in the field of food and agriculture. – FAO Statistical Yearbook: Provides a comprehensive overview of the most significant trends shaping global food and agriculture. – FAO Food Price Index: A measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. – The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO): Biennial report offering insights into the status of forests, recent major policy and institutional developments, and key issues concerning the forest sector. – The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA): Biennial report providing a comprehensive overview of fisheries and aquaculture, including trends and statistics. – The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO): Biennial report analyzing the latest developments in agricultural commodity markets. |
| Instruments | – International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC): Aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests. – Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries: Provides principles and standards for the conservation, management, and development of fisheries. – Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests: Offers guidance on improving the governance of tenure. – International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Facilitates the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. – Framework for Action for Food Security and Nutrition in Protracted Crises: Provides guidance on addressing food security and nutrition challenges in protracted crisis situations. |
| Structure | – Conference: The supreme governing body that meets biennially to determine policies and approve the budget. – Council: Acts as the executive arm between Conference sessions, overseeing the organization’s activities. – Director-General: Heads the organization and implements its programs. – Departments: Includes Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Economic and Social Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forestry, and Technical Cooperation. – Regional Offices: Located in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East and North Africa. |
| Subsidiary Organs | – Committees: Such as the Committee on Agriculture (COAG), Committee on Fisheries (COFI), Committee on Forestry (COFO), and Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP). – Regional Conferences: Facilitate regional dialogue on food and agriculture issues. – Technical Committees: Address specific technical areas within the organization’s mandate. |
| Committees | – Programme Committee: Reviews the FAO’s program of work and budget. – Finance Committee: Oversees financial management and administration. – Committee on Constitutional and Legal Matters: Advises on legal and constitutional issues. – Committee on World Food Security (CFS): Serves as an international platform for stakeholders to work together towards ensuring food security and nutrition for all. |
| Initiatives | – World Food Programme (WFP): Collaborates with the FAO to combat global hunger. – Global Soil Partnership: Aims to improve the governance and promote sustainable management of soils. – Save Food Initiative: Works to reduce food loss and waste worldwide. – Hand-in-Hand Initiative: Matches donors and recipients to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development. – One Health Initiative: Promotes a multisectoral approach to health risks at the human-animal-environment interface. – Blue Growth Initiative: Supports sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. – Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promotes farming practices that increase productivity, enhance resilience, and reduce emissions. – Family Farming Knowledge Platform: Provides information to support family farmers. – International Year of Plant Health: Raises awareness of the importance of plant health in addressing hunger, poverty, and environmental challenges. |
