FAO/
FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its headquarters were moved from Washington, D.C., United States, to Rome, Italy. The FAO has 190 members (189 states and the European Community). It leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its Latin motto, “fiat panis”, translates into English as "let there be bread!".

Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information, and helps developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices, ensuring good nutrition and food security for all.
Summary / Synopsis
In Fast-Track Technology, Hope For a Second Green Revolution
[Richard Conniff, 26/02/2012]
In Fast-Track Technology, Hope For a Second Green Revolution Richard Conniff, a 2012 Alicia Patterson Journalism Fellow, is a National Magazine Award-winning writer whose articles have appeared in Time, Smithsonian, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine,... Suite
Rebuilding Afghanistan’s irrigation network
[FAO, 14/02/2012]
Rebuilding Afghanistan’s irrigation network The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its... Suite
Water is key to food security
[FAO, 23/08/2011]
Water is key to food security The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its... Suite
Famine and Hope in the Horn of Africa
[Jeffrey David Sachs, 31/07/2011]
Famine and Hope in the Horn of Africa Jeffrey David Sachs (United States): Distinguished American economist. Mr Sachs is Director of the Earth Institute, as well as a professor of sustainable development and health policy and management... Suite
FAO report makes strong business case for investing in women
[FAO, 07/03/2011]
FAO report makes strong business case for investing in women The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its... Suite
Will intensified farming save the rainforests?
[Fred Pearce, New Scientist, 09/02/2011]
Will intensified farming save the rainforests? Fred Pearce is journalist specialized in the environment and development. He was born in the United Kingdom and studied geography in the University of Cambridge. His latest book is When the Rivers... Suite
From tequila to the 'tree of life', bats are nature's invaluable allies
[UNEP, 21/01/2011]
 
UNEP: Created in 1972, UNEP, the United Nations Environment Programme, is the highest environmental authority in the United Nations system. The Programme is an “advocate, educator, catalyst and... Suite
Growing food in greener cities
[FAO, 28/09/2010]
Growing food in greener cities The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its... Suite
Towering Lunacy
[George Monbiot, 17/08/2010]
Towering Lunacy George Monbiot is a well-known investigation reporter and columnist for the British newspaper “The Guardian” as well as a member of the BBC Wildlife magazine’s advisory board. He is also the author... Suite
Why it makes more sense to invest in farmers than in farmland
[iied, 20/07/2010]
Why it makes more sense to invest in farmers than in farmland L’International Institute for Environment and Development (iied) a été fondé en 1971. Cette organisation internationale non-lucrative conduit des activités de recherches et de lobbying sur les grands... Suite
Africa’s Urban Farmers
[Juliet Torome, 10/10/2009]
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Fighting Biopiracy
[Silvia Ribeiro et Kathy Jo Wetter, 01/09/2009]
Fighting Biopiracy Silvia Ribeiro et Kathy Jo Wetter travaillent toutes deux en tant que chercheuses pour l'Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group). Suite
A Big Chance for Small Farmers
[Jeffrey David Sachs, 14/07/2009]
A Big Chance for Small Farmers Jeffrey David Sachs (United States): Distinguished American economist. Mr Sachs is Director of the Earth Institute, as well as a professor of sustainable development and health policy and management... Suite
Land grab or development opportunity? Agricultural investment and international land deals in Africa
[FAO, 25/05/2009]
Land grab or development opportunity? Agricultural investment and international land deals in Africa The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its... Suite
Harvest of Suicide
[Vandana Shiva, 04/04/2009]
Harvest of Suicide Vandana Shiva (India): Physicist, epistemologist, ecologist, and Indian feminist with a PhD in the philosophy of science. She founded “Navdanya,” an association which works to protect biodiversity... Suite
FAO : Farming must change to feed the world
[FAO, 04/02/2009]
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The Other Carbon Economy
[Vandana Shiva, Resurgence, 01/05/2008]
The Other Carbon Economy Vandana Shiva (India): Physicist, epistemologist, ecologist, and Indian feminist with a PhD in the philosophy of science. She founded “Navdanya,” an association which works to protect biodiversity... Suite
The Instrumental Role of Water in Agriculture
[FAO, 01/04/2007]
The Instrumental Role of Water in Agriculture The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. In 1951 its... Suite
When FAO forsees an organic future
[Nature & Progrès, 01/07/2007]
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Conclusions of the Report on Organic Agriculture and Food Security
[FAO, 01/05/2007]
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Why organic farming must replace industrial agriculture
[Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, 01/12/2005]
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Feeding 7 billion well
[Lester Brown, Worldwatch Institute, 01/01/2006]
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Agroecology, Humans and their Responsibility to the Living
[Pierre Rabhi, 10/05/2007]
Agroecology, Humans and their Responsibility to the Living A farmer in the1960s, Pierre Rabhi confronted very early on the problem of intensive agriculture and was appalled by the impacts of this practice on ecosystems. In the 1960s, he decided to develop,... Suite

Conclusions of the Report on Organic Agriculture and Food Security

31/08/2008 2:10 pm

The meeting participants agreed on the following conclusions, as summarized by the Chair:

- Organic agriculture can contribute to food security but its potential to do so depend greatly on political will.
- New challenges such as climate change can be mitigated by organic agriculture through such measures as enhanced soil carbon sequestration. Organic agriculture also offers practical climate adaptation options.
- Water security is enhanced by organic agriculture, in terms of drinking water quality, decreased irrigation needs in organic soils and better yields in water-stressed climate variability.
- Agrobiodiversity is protected and sustainably used by organic agriculture.
- Nutritional adequacy is enhanced by the more diverse and micronutrient-rich organic foods.
- Rural development is achieved by organic agriculture through generating income and employment in areas where people have no alternative other than using their labour, local resources and indigenous knowledge.
- An international network for organic research and proper dispersion is crucial for the further development of organic agriculture and more public resources should be devoted to agro-ecological science.
- Food security is tightly linked to agricultural policies that determine export and import choice. Organic agriculture reconciles economic objectives with environmental and social objectives but its further development requires securing a level playing field through appropriate policy interventions.
- Food security is not only a concern of developing countries as fossil fuel crisis, climate change and other vulnerabilities in the food chain may also endanger areas that have food security.