A hazelnut’s shell could help save the next harvest. In Georgia, farmer Shete Kemoklidze lost US$20,000 when incorrect drying left his hazelnuts contaminated with a poisonous substance produced by fungi. With training and a grant through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), he now uses a dryer fuelled by discarded nutshells to protect his crop and dry his neighbours’ harvests too. Funded by the European Union and Sweden, the initiative combines food safety skills with better equipment to cut losses and protect farmers’ livelihoods.
Agriculture and Food
What if the future of coffee depended on knowing exactly where every bean was grown? In Kenya, smallholder farmers are using digital mapping to protect their livelihoods and prove their coffee comes from deforestation-free land. With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a cooperative in Nandi County mapped 1,621 coffee plots in just six weeks, using . The data helps farmers meet international trade requirements, improve farming practices and maintain access to markets, showing how technology can make agriculture more sustainable and inclusive.
’s multilingual thesaurus connects agricultural concepts across languages, helping researchers organize, share and discover scientific knowledge across disciplines and linguistic boundaries.
What once went up in smoke is now bringing new life to the soil. In western Georgia, farmer Nana Nikuradze is turning crop leftovers into natural fertilizer, reducing waste and growing healthier food for her family and community. Through training supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), she has embraced composting and environmentally friendly farming methods that protect beneficial insects and reduce reliance on chemicals. Her journey shows how simple changes can nurture healthier soils, strengthen rural livelihoods and turn yesterday’s waste into tomorrow’s harvest.
What if protecting biodiversity could also put food on the table and money in farmers’ pockets? From restoring wetlands in Mali to safeguarding native seeds in Colombia, rural communities are showing how healthier ecosystems can strengthen livelihoods and local economies. Yet those who protect nature often receive the fewest financial benefits. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) outlines , combining ecosystem restoration, community leadership, fair financing and access to markets to create lasting opportunities for people and the planet.
From flooded fields to drought-stricken farms, climate change is reshaping how we grow food, while Viet Nam and Sri Lanka show how to protect harvests and cut emissions.
Rural women feed communities, sustain livelihoods, and safeguard natural resources, yet their rights, resources and decision-making power fall short of their contributions. Under the theme “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature”, this International Day of Rural Women (15 October) celebrates their work conserving seeds, protecting biodiversity, managing water and restoring land. In the context of the the day calls for direct investment in rural women, equal rights and resources, and greater leadership in shaping agricultural and environmental policies.
The world produces enough food for all, yet 645 million people still face hunger and 2.69 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Conflict, economic instability and climate shocks are straining agrifood systems, making access to reliable, affordable and nutritious food increasingly difficult. Under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow”, on 16 October highlights science, technology, innovation and traditional knowledge as tools to build resilient agrifood systems that feed people today while protecting resources for future generations. Watch the ceremony on and celebrate
Before it reaches the table, every cup of coffee begins in the soil and in the knowledge and labor of farming communities. From farms and forests to ports, cafés and homes, coffee connects people across borders and generations. Yet behind this daily ritual lies an unequal journey: smallholder producers bear rising costs and risks while receiving a fraction of the value they create. This year, 1 October marks the first observance of International Coffee Day, celebrating coffee’s cultural and economic role and calling for a fairer, more resilient and sustainable future for all who depend on it.
Reducing food loss and waste helps to protect natural resources and biodiversity, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and maximize the use of food produced. It is therefore central to improving food security and health, securing sustainable agrifood systems, and fighting climate change. On the (29 September), we urge everyone to take action to expand and strengthen individual and collective efforts to reduce food loss and waste and help ensure a food-secure world.
Forecast-based action, resilient crops, efficient irrigation, diversification, and integrated support systems help farmers withstand El Niño shocks and strengthen long-term food security.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Victorine Akoua farms the same land as her parents, but the rains and seasons they once relied on have changed. Facing costly loans and an unpredictable climate, she found another way forward: saving and borrowing with other women in her village. With affordable credit and training supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Victorine now grows vegetables using compost and other sustainable practices, earning more while feeding her family. Women like Sonia France Boa are also pooling savings, farming together and reinvesting their earnings. Their experience shows how shared finance, practical skills and solidarity can help women build livelihoods and face climate change together.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, women are strengthening food security, livelihoods and communities. In Belize, teacher Elevernie Davis has turned a school garden into a living classroom, where children learn agricultural skills while growing fresh vegetables for nutritious school meals. Some students have even started gardens at home, sharing what they learn with their families. Nearly 800 students and more than 50 teachers have been trained. From Belize to Brazil, Guatemala, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic, women are showing how knowledge and opportunity can help build more sustainable food systems. The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 offers a unique opportunity to place women farmers at the centre of the agrifood systems agenda and accelerate action.
Women scientists are helping turn soil into a source of solutions for Mozambique’s farmers. At the country’s Agricultural Research Institute, Stília Vilanculos and Janete Americano analyse soils and turn the results into practical advice on crops and farming. Through the FAO-supported SoilFER programme, laboratories are gaining new equipment, training and closer links with farmers. By strengthening local expertise and access to reliable soil information, the initiative aims to improve soil health, farm productivity and food security while helping agriculture cope with drought and changing weather.
In Mongolia’s Töv province, dairy farmer Otgo Dashdorj sings to keep her cows calm — 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 — and her secret of singing to happy cows — to her veterinarian son.