The video will showcase impactful projects in sustainable agriculture and land management, emphasizing the leadership of women and youth in shaping policies for NENA's sustainable development.
Agriculture and Food
We can already see the effects of climate change - global temperatures are rising, extreme weather events are intensifying, severe wildfires are becoming more frequent and water scarcity is worsening. focuses on making food and farming systems sustainable, fair, and strong enough to handle climate change. The UN's food and agriculture agency works with countries to improve climate policies and plans, supports farming-focused solutions, and helps countries access funding for climate-friendly projects. FAO helps countries adopt better farming practices, create new policies, and use new tools to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate changes. It also works directly with communities to restore farmland, protect forests, improve water use, and promote eco-friendly farming, aiming to include farmers, women, youth, and Indigenous groups in all efforts.
Martha Adjorlolo鈥檚 beehives in Donkorkrom, Ghana, are both her livelihood and passion. Despite starting beekeeping only a year ago, she is dedicated to sustainable practices, using local methods like top bar hives and natural repellents such as lemongrass oil. Her recent training by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations () emphasized the need to minimize chemical and antimicrobial use for the health of bees, food safety, and the environment. The workshop highlighted the dangers of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which occurs when microorganisms become resistant to treatments, resulting in increased illness and mortality in various species.
The Degaan Bile project demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation in empowering Somali farmers to adapt to climate change and build a sustainable future.
Bodo and Sanda are reinventing entrepreneurship in Madagascar, creating jobs and empowering youth through IFAD's Agribusiness Hubs.
鈥淭arakama鈥 is a traditional nomadic pastoral lifestyle practiced by Azerbaijani communities who move with the seasons. Mahammad Bayramov, from Aghdam, has lived this way since childhood, traveling with his family鈥檚 livestock. Each year, Mahammad鈥檚 family and five others move their herds to the mountains, where collaboration helps them manage the animals more effectively. Raised with livestock, Mahammad and his community relied on them for income, leading to the formation of Eko-S眉d (Eco-Milk), a cooperative focused on milk and dairy production. However, they faced significant challenges due to manual, labor-intensive processes that limited their profits. In 2023, a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization () and the Government of Azerbaijan provided essential tools, including feed grinders and a dairy processing facility. This support allowed Eco-Milk to grow to 23 members, enabling efficient production of cheese and butter sought after in Baku and beyond.
Aishagul Duganova, a 48-year-old mother of three from Koram, Kazakhstan, finds hope in her new greenhouse amid family health issues and financial struggles. After her husband's injury and her elderly parents-in-law's illnesses forced her to abandon work, Aishagul faced overwhelming debt from medical expenses. Her situation changed when her sister-in-law connected her to a greenhouse training program funded by the Global Environmental Facility through the Food and Agriculture Organization pof The United Nations () project . This initiative aims to empower rural women by providing them with skills in sustainable farming, enabling Aishagul to cultivate food independently.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a collapse in local food production, with nearly 鈥攁bout 1.84 million people鈥攆acing severe food insecurity and a risk of famine. Amid this crisis, Hakmah El-Hamidi has lost half of her livestock, severely impacting her family's livelihood. Despite the challenges, she expresses gratitude for the assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization (), which has provided fodder to help her animals recover. FAO has distributed fodder to over 4,400 livestock-keeping families and supplied veterinary kits to around 2,400 families across Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, and Rafah, helping to improve animal health and preserve livelihoods in the region.
Nang San Hlaing , from Myanmar, was impressed by the crucial role of women in the development of farming communities in Thailand's highlands. She believes that Myanmar can achieve similar gender equality in the future, despite the challenges of changing attitudes and shifting away from illicit crops. Inspired by what she is learning in Thailand, she wants to implement new farming methods and create social enterprises in Myanmar.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is actively supporting by advocating transformative climate solutions through agrifood systems.
Fonio is an ancient West African cereal that is a staple food for many families in northern Ghana. It's versatile and, once boiled, can be consumed as couscous, porridge, or turned into flour for baking. It is a versatile crop that generations have relied on, for both food and livelihoods. Christabel Kwasi, a 29-year-old farmer, is eager to teach people across Ghana how to grow fonio and prepare dishes with it, so they can have food always. 鈥淥ur grandparents were telling us, [in] our forefather's time there was a lot of hunger. So fonio is the type [where] if you don't even have money to buy chemicals [fertilisers], you can still farm it, feed on it鈥, Christabel recalls.
IFAD is partnering with the Mobile Journalism Awards to offer a US$ 1,000 prize for the best film highlighting a compelling story about rural people and issues, with the winner also receiving the opportunity to present their film at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia in April 2025.
Farmers in northeastern Croatia have been making a traditional dried sausage called for 120 years. It's seasoned with paprika, garlic, and white pepper, and has gained Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status from the European Union, thanks to the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Croatian government. Today, this mark of quality helps producers make more money for their hard work and keep culinary traditions alive.
Ecuador is pioneering sustainable agriculture with innovative practices to enhance productivity while preserving its rich biodiversity and forest ecosystems. The United Nations Development Programme () and Lavazza have teamed up to produce the world's first certified coffee. The initiative aims to improve the quality of coffee beans and protect nature and forests, working with farmers in the 23 provinces bordering Ecuador's Amazon rainforest. The initiative is part of the program, a government-led initiative supported by UNDP, which has restored of Amazonian land.
The transportation process, a critical point in fresh fruit and vegetable supply chains, contributes significantly to the 13 percent of the world鈥檚 food losses that occur between harvesting and retail. To address this challenge, we need to approach the whole system of transportation and come up with tailored solutions. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations () works to promote the development of organized transport systems critical for assuring the efficient transfer of perishable fresh produce from farms to markets with minimal food loss in low- and middle-income countries.