Find out more in
In Mongolia鈥檚 T枚v province, dairy farmer Otgo Dashdorj sings to keep her cows calm 鈥 and producing more milk. After 27 years as nomadic herders, she and her husband settled three years ago as harsher winters, drought and degrading grasslands made traditional herding increasingly difficult. Now, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization and partners, Otgo is using better feed, digital tools and climate-smart farming practices to strengthen her business. She hopes to double her herd to 40 cows and eventually pass the farm 鈥 and her secret of singing to happy cows 鈥 to her veterinarian son.
The (GPP-TAD) strengthens global partnerships to prevent, control and eliminate transboundary animal diseases, protecting food security, livelihoods, trade and resilient agrifood systems.
Family farming registries are administrative systems that collect information on and their households. By providing reliable and up-to-date data, they help governments better understand who family farmers are, how they produce, and the challenges they face. This information supports the design of more inclusive and effective policies, more efficient resource allocation, and better coordination across sectors, from agriculture and social protection to education, health, and the environment. Registries also contribute to monitoring and evaluating public policies, strengthening support for family farming and promoting more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems.
With nearly half of the world鈥檚 young people living in rural areas, IFAD highlights how combining skills, finance, entrepreneurship and access to markets can help young people build lasting careers and businesses while strengthening rural economies.
Millions of people with food allergies rely on labels such as 鈥渕ay contain nuts鈥 to make safe choices, but these warnings are often used inconsistently or unnecessarily. New guidelines adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission introduce the first risk- and science-based thresholds for precautionary allergen labelling. Developed from years of FAO and WHO expert research, the guidance aims to ensure warnings are used only when cross-contact cannot be adequately controlled and allergen levels pose a genuine risk. The approach could make labels more reliable for consumers while allowing more food products to be safely available and supporting consistent standards in international trade.
At a seed fair in southern Malawi, farmers showcased biscuits, flours and other products made from sorghum and cowpea, two nutritious, drought-resistant crops once widely grown but sidelined as maize came to dominate agriculture. The event formed part of an FAO-led initiative under the initiative to revive these "opportunity crops" and strengthen resilience to water scarcity. Working with Malawi's Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations () trained researchers, tested drought-tolerant varieties and involved farmers in selecting preferred crops. Cooking demonstrations and business training highlighted new income opportunities, helping communities improve nutrition, adapt to climate change and restore agricultural biodiversity.
sustain life by connecting food production, distribution, and resources, while resilient systems help protect food supplies amid climate change and global challenges.
sustain life by connecting food production, distribution, and resources, while resilient systems help protect food supplies amid climate change and global challenges.
The New World Screwworm (NWS) is not a worm but a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into living tissue, causing painful and potentially fatal infestations in livestock, wildlife, pets and, occasionally, humans. Resurging across the Americas, it threatens animal health, food production, trade and rural livelihoods. NWS spreads through the movement of infested animals, migrating wildlife and adult flies crossing borders, making surveillance and international cooperation essential. A proven solution is the , which has successfully eradicated the pest in several countries. The Foood and Agriculture Organization (), together with partners, supports countries through surveillance, veterinary training, early warning systems, emergency assistance and regional coordination to prevent, control and ultimately eradicate NWS.
The (SOFI) report shows that global hunger declined for the third consecutive year, with an estimated 645 million people affected in 2025. Despite this progress, major regional disparities persist, with Africa continuing to bear the highest burden of hunger and the greatest difficulty in accessing affordable, healthy diets. The report warns that conflict, climate shocks, economic instability and rising food costs continue to threaten food security, underscoring the need for stronger investments in resilient food systems and equitable access to nutritious food to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030.
As the morning mist lifts over Rwanda鈥檚 rolling hills, thousands of tea pickers begin work on one of the country鈥檚 most valuable crops. Behind every carefully plucked leaf is a story of resilience, smallholder farmers and a national effort to produce premium-quality tea while protecting livelihoods. With support for sustainable farming, stronger value chains and a renewed focus on quality, Rwanda is turning its dramatic landscape into an economic advantage. From hillside plantations to teacups around the world, the country is brewing a future where agriculture creates opportunity, empowers rural communities and helps lift families out of poverty.
Six remarkable tea-producing regions have been recognized as for unique landscapes, traditions, and generations-old farming practices.
As climate change and deforestation threaten the future of cocoa farming, growers in C么te d鈥橧voire are embracing agroforestry to restore productivity and protect their livelihoods. By planting shade, fruit and timber trees alongside cocoa, farmers are improving yields, enriching soils, boosting biodiversity and making their crops more resilient to extreme weather. Supported by training, cooperatives and sustainable farming practices, this shift is helping communities increase incomes while safeguarding the land for future generations鈥攑roving that growing more can go hand in hand with restoring nature.
Rural communities are where food systems begin and resilience takes root. Home to many of the world鈥檚 poorest people, they face the harsh edge of food insecurity, climate disruption and migration pressures. Yet within these landscapes lies extraordinary promise. With sustained investment, stronger value chains, access to finance and closer links to markets, rural people can transform vulnerability into opportunity, strengthen food security and build more stable futures. To invest in rural areas is to invest in the first mile of a more secure and sustainable world.