FAO

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

A woman checking the quality of the pistachios on a pistachio tree.

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.

woman holding bunch of grapes in vineyard

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.

Nurcan attending to her beehive.

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

A woman sitting outdoors on a low stool, engaged in peeling or cutting tubers, which are scattered on the ground around them.

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.

A man in a forest where yerba mate is grown, staring into the distance.

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.

Close-up of hands gently pouring raw quinoa grains into a bowl, the tiny seeds cascading like a delicate stream.

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.

Man in African garb interacting with young fashion student.

Fashion paid tribute to African cotton and designs on World Cotton Day by bringing together Nigerien fashion designer and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Alphadi and students at Rome’s Accademia di Costume e Moda. Young designers worked with colourful African cotton to create fashion pieces, guided by Alphadi’s expertise, blending African and Italian design traditions in a two-day masterclass organized by FAO. The event highlighted cotton’s sustainability, its role from field to fashion, and celebrated Africa’s textile heritage and global potential.

This video features submissions to the “Global Call for Stories: Family farmers at the heart of climate-resilient and sustainable agrifood systems,” organized by FAO’s Family Farming Knowledge Platform and Engagement Units, in collaboration with allies including Access Agriculture, Access Agriculture, Agricultural Extension in South Asia (AESA), Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Asian Farmers' Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), CIRAD, EncontrAR, Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean for Climate Action on Agriculture (PLACA), Schola Campesina, and the World Rural Forum.

A woman seated outdoors on a grassy area near a mountainous landscape, operating a traditional wooden loom.

In the Himalayan mountains of Bhutan, women in the village of Goenpa Kabab weave intricate silk Kishuthara dresses on backstrap looms, a skill passed down through generations in a Buddhist, matriarchal community. Sherab Tshomo, a 41-year-old artisan, has been perfecting this craft since age eight, which involves dyeing raw silk with local plants and using traditional methods to create detailed patterns. Despite the high value of these garments within Bhutan and abroad, many women artisans struggle to access international markets, including the global fashion industry, to showcase their artistry and heritage.

Rangelands cover half the world, supporting biodiversity and pastoralist livelihoods, requiring policies and investments for land access, mobility, governance, ecosystem restoration, animal health, and equitable value chains.

An aerial view of terraced rice fields.

Land, soil, and water are essential for agriculture and food security, but they face severe pressure due to human activities. Over 60% of human-induced land degradation occurs on agricultural lands, while agriculture utilizes over 70% of global freshwater withdrawal. The new edition of The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources highlights the urgent issues of land degradation, water scarcity, and climate change, and their effects on agricultural productivity and ecosystems. It explores sustainable solutions and integrated approaches for sustainable land, soil and water use and management emphasizing the importance of our current choices to ensure resource protection and meet future demands.