Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, established in 1945, is headquartered in Rome, Italy. It serves as a pivotal hub for international agricultural cooperation and development, aiming to eradicate hunger and improve food security globally.

Financial Indicators

For the biennium of 2022-2023, the FAO operates with a substantial budget of USD 3.2 billion. This budget is primarily funded by contributions from member nations, which constitute approximately 43% of the total budget. The remaining funds are sourced from voluntary contributions by various entities, enabling the FAO to implement diverse initiatives aimed at enhancing global food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Important Events

The FAO has been actively involved in several significant global events. It has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to enhance animal surveillance in response to the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, crucial for developing strategies to detect, prevent, and manage the disease. In April 2025, the FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) rose to 128.3 points due to increased prices for cereals, dairy, and meat, despite declines in sugar and vegetable oil prices. By November, the global food price index showed a decline for the third consecutive month, primarily due to reductions in dairy products, sugar, and vegetable oils.

The FAO is also measuring food loss and waste in dairy farms, collaborating with the National Dairy Institute of Uruguay to implement strategies that minimize waste and promote sustainability in dairy production.

Company Plans

The FAO remains committed to combating hunger and advancing sustainable agricultural practices. The organization emphasizes strengthening international partnerships and developing innovative solutions to tackle emerging food security challenges, including those posed by climate change and pandemics. A key initiative involves enhancing livestock productivity to reduce global antibiotic usage, a vital step towards a sustainable agricultural future. Additionally, the FAO supports Nigeria's livestock strategy, focusing on animal health, feed production, and disease control.

The FAO has identified insects as a high-quality protein source, with protein content in many species surpassing 60% of dry matter, presenting an innovative approach to meeting global nutritional needs. The organization also cautions that partial blockages of the Strait of Hormuz could escalate energy and fertilizer costs, potentially impacting agricultural and dairy production worldwide.

In 2001, the FAO established World Milk Day to emphasize the importance of milk as a global food and the contributions of the dairy industry to nutrition and sustainable agriculture. A recent FAO report highlights Brazil's influence in global animal protein markets, emphasizing sustainable practices while addressing challenges like food waste and environmental impact. The organization provides technical guidelines for dairy processing, recommending that milk should be collected and transferred to processing plants or cooling centers within four to six hours after milking, as collection and transportation account for more than 30% of total dairy processing costs.

The FAO reports on the global camel population and standards, associating with the Codex Alimentarius, an international food standards body, providing data on the global camel population exceeding 41 million.

Modified: 2026/07/25