Imataca is a vast tropical forest in southeast Venezuela spanning 38,000 square kilometers. Rich in biodiversity, the forest is home to thousands of plant and animal species. Decades of illegal logging and mining have led to deforestation and loss of wildlife. The Karina indigenous people living in the forest are working hard to change this. Through a women-led initiative, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), they’re ensuring the forests of Imataca are now protected for generations to come.

Producers: Marina Sánchez Castelo, Charlotta Lomas, Anais Hotin.
Presenter: Charlotta Lomas, FAO.
Photo credit: ©Jesús Contreras/FAO.

Groundwater has helped lift millions of people out of poverty since technologies for drilling and energy sources for pumping became widely available to rural farmers during the latter half of the 20th century. With a projected increase of 50 percent in the demand for food, feed and biofuels by 2050, relative to 2012 levels, the depletion of groundwater, left unabated, threatens to undermine food security, basic water supplies and resilience to the climate crisis on a global scale. As is so often the case, the poorest and most marginalized communities stand to lose the most.

FAO works to utilize local knowledge sharing networks to raise awareness on how people – food producers in particular – can protect themselves from COVID-19 while maintaining their livelihoods.

Under the banner of Pillar IV of FAO’s component of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19; “Ensuring food supply chain actors are not at risk of virus transmission”, the USAID-funded project "Supporting critical agricultural value chains in food crisis countries in the context of COVID-19” developed a range of products including a series of documentaries and animated films to facilitate documentation and dissemination of emerging COVID-19 sensitization responses in 11 focus countries. These products rely on qualitative data collection and beneficiary-level evidence gathering carried out during on-the-ground missions and can all be accessed on the KORE portal.

Hallilah Nakumai’s family always put education first. In a rare opportunity for a young woman from her village, Hallilah attended boarding school and then a bachelor’s degree on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture. She took away invaluable agricultural expertise, diving deep into plant and animal breeding, biotechnology, agribusiness and entrepreneurship. All this proved its value as she returned to her village. She soon sought and received the support of the FAO-implemented programme to streamline and upgrade the agrifood production of her community in Papua New Guinea.

In a country made up mostly of desert, the United Arab Emirates are using innovative technologies to sustainably farm fish, decreasing pressure on ecosystems and meeting the needs of a growing population.

FAO monitors the global Desert Locust situation closely and provides early warnings and alerts on the timing, scale and location of invasions and breeding. This early warning is vital.

With the full picture of damage and needs after Tonga’s massive volcanic eruption and tsunami only gradually emerging, what is already clear is that the stakes could not be higher for the farmers and fishers of the South Pacific island nation, living in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. With roughly 86 percent of Tongans engaged in agriculture,  FAO is extremely concerned about the potential impacts across all agriculture sectors, including fisheries, crops and livestock, even though information is limited, with communications and access remaining severely affected.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) continues to pose a major threat to human development and to the fight against infectious diseases. A holistic approach must be used to mitigate AMR risks in Africa.

The pandemic has already shaken the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as it continues, FAO reports that progress towards the achievement of the SDGs is still to be determined.

They’re designed to not only celebrate local cuisines, but to recognise the nutritious value of traditional meals eaten around the globe. 

2022 is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, to highlight the importance of small-scale artisanal fisheries for our food systems, livelihoods, culture and the environment. It aims to strengthen science-policy interaction, empower stakeholders, and build new or strengthen existing partnerships. Join us and help in our goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources by spreading awareness of the beauty and sustainability of the artisanal fisheries. They might be small in scale, but big in value.

Sustainability goes beyond the environment; it includes other things that people need towards quality of life. FAO suggests what you can do to make this holiday sustainable, merry and bright.

Land, soil, and water are essential for life on Earth. Over 95% of our food is produced on land and it all begins with soil and water. All seem unlimited, yet everything has its limits. We are stretching the resources to a point of no return. Only by working together can we bring the land, soil and water ecosystems back from the brink of collapse. Let’s manage these resources wisely to safeguard our future.

FAO reminds us that biodiversity is the thread that keeps us together. Without it, there cannot be life on Earth and food for all. The fish we catch… the livestock we rear… the soil that nurtures our food… the trees that give us fruits, medicinal plants, timber… the water that flows beneath out feet… all depend on biodiversity. The way we produce, process, and consume our food needs to change. Here are 4 ways to protect biodiversity and strengthen ecosystem services…