"We went the furthest I have ever been from land." Seeking data to advance marine research, scientist Marco Milardi took part in a trip of a lifetime to the international waters of the Southwest Indian Ocean, going where very few people have ever been. He was one of over 20 scientists from 11 countries on the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, a vessel operated as part of the EAF-Nansen Programme; a partnership between the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Government of Norway, 33 countries and several regional organizations across Africa and the Bay of Bengal.

In the northern province of Cagayan, communities depend on coastal waters and fertile land for their livelihoods, from fishing to farming. Yet intensifying typhoons increasingly threaten lives, assets, and food security. In 2024, six cyclones caused over USD 13.7 million in damage. When Super Typhoon Fung-Wong (Uwan) approached in 2025, communities were better prepared. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, fishers secured boats and farmers protected inputs and livestock. In Buguey, coordinated action safeguarded assets and enabled a quick recovery. These efforts show how anticipatory action and local coordination reduce disaster impacts, while influencing national policy in the Philippines to strengthen resilience and collective preparedness.

Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical chokepoints for oil, gas, and fertilizer shipments, are already pushing up energy and agricultural input costs worldwide. Because energy and fertilizer markets are closely linked to food production, these shocks can quickly spread through global agrifood systems. 

In the short term, measures such as diversifying trade routes, strengthening market monitoring, supporting farmers, and providing targeted assistance to vulnerable countries can help stabilize supply chains.

Diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz also remain critical for protecting global energy markets and food security.

This special episode of the podcast The Work We Do by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization delves into the global implications of the current Middle East crisis.  

In Venezuela, the banana has been for generations a symbol of sustenance and tradition, but in 2023, the Fusarium Tropical Race 4 fungus arrived in producing areas causing a phytosanitary emergency. The fungus, a devastating disease of banana and plantain trees, can remain in the soil for more than two decades threatening production and the lives of those who depend on it. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization and national authorities, farmers are learning to manage the disease, helping rebuild production and strengthen resilience against future outbreaks.

In an increasingly interconnected world, no challenge is individual. Climate change and structural inequalities cross borders and make the development of the most vulnerable populations more complex. In this context, coordinated action and the commitment of everyone become urgent.

Forests sustain livelihoods, drive economies, and provide vital ecosystem services, celebrated annually on March 21 with the 2026 theme as: “Forests and Economies”

At dawn, Maryam Gholam Alizadeh moves through her pistachio trees, reading the soil and leaves for signs in a landscape strained by heat and dwindling water. Though experienced, she sought new skills through trainings offered by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture, learning practical methods to use water more efficiently and prevent aflatoxin. Applying these techniques brought steadier harvests and renewed confidence. Today, she shares her knowledge with fellow growers, contributing to a broader effort that has strengthened hundreds of farmers across Iran’s pistachio heartlands.

In Georgia’s Kakheti region, 25-year-old viticulturist and winemaker Sophio Khutitdze is reshaping how grapes — and wine — are made. Trained in science and driven by a love of nature, she manages 40 hectares of vineyards, where quality starts with the grape, not the bottle. Through a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project funded by the European Union and Sweden, she is using pheromone-based “mating disruption” to control the destructive European grapevine moth, cutting pesticide use while protecting yields and food safety. As a newly trained trainer, she now shares integrated vineyard management techniques with others, joining 23 wineries across four regions that are adopting sustainable practices. Discover how Sophio and her peers are transforming Georgia’s wine sector.

After leaving a successful corporate career, Nurcan Tekneci rebuilt her life around sustainable beekeeping in rural Türkiye, becoming an entrepreneur, trainer and community role model with support from FAO

In eastern Cameroon, the Baka people have traditionally relied on hunting and gathering, but recent climate shocks, economic instability, and conflicts have strained their resources. In Mayos, a village in Dimako district, many have faced food scarcity, forcing children to miss school to search for food. To address this crisis, from April 2024 to June 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with the Cameroonian government and World Bank support, launched the Emergency Project to Combat the Food Crisis (PULCCA). This initiative provided training in modern agricultural techniques and distributed production kits, blending traditional knowledge with new practices to enhance food security for the Baka community.

Communities in Tajikistan are reviving ancestral seeds and protecting agrobiodiversity, with FAO support helping farmers and women’s groups restore traditional crops, boost livelihoods, and strengthen resilience.

In southern Brazil, a drink symbolizes connection; the cuia, a traditional vessel for chimarrão (erva-mate), fosters conversation and community. This drink carries not just warmth but also cultural memory and environmental wisdom. In Parana State, erva-mate is sustainably cultivated within native forests, supporting local livelihoods over generations. This approach allows agriculture to coexist with the forest rather than clear it. Brazil, alongside Argentina and Paraguay, stands as a major global producer and exporter of erva-mate, linking cultural heritage with international markets.

Norbu Gyeltshen and his wife, Pema Sedon, have transformed their farm in Bartsham, eastern Bhutan, by introducing quinoa, which they initially planted as an experiment. Now, quinoa is central to their work, leading to a harvest of about 1,200 kilograms last season, boosting their income and community resilience. Recognized as Bhutan’s special agricultural product, quinoa has become a national priority, thriving across all 20 districts. Supported by the FAO's One Country One Priority Product initiative, farmers are receiving training and building seed banks, fostering confidence in sustainable farming practices.

Seaweed farming is rapidly growing in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering sustainable food, coastal livelihoods, economic growth, and environmental benefits like ecosystem restoration and carbon capture.

How much do you know about food loss and waste? Let’s find out! These brainteasers, quizzes, and crosswords will put your knowledge to the test.