Following the 1st International Symposium on Agroecology for Food Security and Nutrition, held in Rome in 2014, FAO organized a series of regional multistakeholder seminars in Latin America and the Caribbean, sub- Saharan Africa, Asia and the Pacific, China, Europe and Central Asia, and the Near East and North Africa from 2015 to 2017. These seminars provided many opportunities for exchange and debate and revealed that while the scientific framework for agroecology dates back to the last c...

It serves a dual purpose of consolidating biophysical operations and socio-economic assessments, and is mainly built on five-year interventions and practical experiences gathered through Action Against Desertification.The first part of the publication is a practical manual expressly created for stakeholders, partners, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations. Its purpose is to guide the implementation of restoration operations at scale on the ground, as well...

Through simple language and numerous illustrations, the guide describes the basic rules of diving, the potential risks associated with this activity and what to do to minimize them, as well as other useful tips to improve hookah diving operations. The guide, however, is not intended as a comprehensive manual for commercial divers. Rather, it is strongly recommended that fishers who want to engage in hookah or SCUBA diving receive appropriate training by a qualified diving instructor.

If people are to survive in these ever harsher conditions, their crops need to withstand drought, high temperatures and poor soils.Cactus crops are gaining increasing interest across the globe, in particular cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), because of its unique characteristics which provide resilience to the above mentioned harsh conditions. Cactus pear is able to grow on land where no other crops are able to grow; it can be used to restore degraded land and in many countries, ...

They can also enable governments to identify and shape responsible projects, establish a country's credibility as an investment destination with an effective enabling environment for responsible investment, establish good government – community – investor relationships, and lay the foundations for informed expectations and decisions about a proposed project. This publication seeks to unpack the "what, why, and how" of screening. Sections 1, 2, and 3 make up the "guidance" component of the ...

Early food composition studies were carried out to identify and determine the chemical nature of the principles in foods that affect human health. These studies were also concerned with the mechanisms whereby chemical constituents exert their influence and provided the basis for the early development of the science of nutrition (McCollum, 1957), and they continue to be central to the development of the nutritional sciences. Current knowledge of nutrition is still incomplete, and studies ar...

The in-depth analysis of progress made against Sustainable Development Goal 2 Target 2.1 (to end hunger and ensure access to food by all) and Target 2.2 (to end all forms of malnutrition), as well as the state of micronutrient deficiencies, is complemented by a review on rural transformation policies aimed at addressing food insecurity and nutrition issues.Updated estimates shows that the food security situation on the region continues to worsen since 2011 -2013. For, the Near East...

Milk and dairy products are a vital source of nutrition for many people. They also present livelihood opportunities for farm families, processors and other stakeholders in dairy value chains. Consumers, industry and governments need up-to-date information on how milk and dairy products can contribute to human nutrition and how dairy-industry development can best contribute to increasing food security and alleviating poverty. This publication is unique in drawing together information on nut...

Every soil in the world can be allocated to one of the 32 Reference Soil Groups as defined in this document, and can further be characterized by a set of qualifiers. The resulting soil name provides information on soil genesis, soil ecological function and soil properties relevant for land use and management. The same system, refined slightly, may be used to name the units of soil map legends, thereby providing comprehensive spatial information. By accommodating national soil classificatio...

Innovations that address these challenges, as well as emerging needs, and promote productive, equitable and sustainable water management are needed. These Guidelines on Irrigation Investment Projects, produced by an inter-agency team, highlight experiences and lessons learned from global irrigation investment operations. They introduce innovative approaches, tools and references, and provide practical guidance on how to incorporate or apply them at each stage of the investment project cycl...

Independently from its origin, once the food reaches the consumer it may have an impact on public health and cause severe economic damage to the establishments devoted to its preparation and sale. These two events may cause loss of confidence and the closing down of a business.Fortunately, the measures for preventing food contamination are very simple and may be applied by anyone who handles food, by following easy rules for hygienic food handling.This Manual's purpose is to ...

This document presents a summary of the first Status of the World's Soil Resources report, the goal of which is to make clear the essential connections between human well-being and the soil. The report provides a benchmark against which our collective progress to conserve this essential resource can be measured. The report synthesizes the work of some 200 soil scientists from 60 countries. It provides a global perspective on the current state of the soil, its role in providing ecosystem se...