Stories & Articles
Towards more sustainable investments
in the food and agricultural sector
FAO’s Investment Centre celebrates 60 years of effective development partnerships
16/10/2024
Future work targets sustainable value chain development, decarbonization, digital agriculture and innovative finance among many other areas Rome – The Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization
From Baranja to the world
08/10/2024
A traditional Croatian sausage goes international with a boost from Protected Geographical Indication labels In recent years, traditional foods have gained recognition on the global
EBRD announces winners of EBRD AgVenture startup competition
04/10/2024
The EBRD announces three winners and three runners-up in its EBRD AgVenture startup competition Prizes include grants, mentorship, advisory support, and opportunities for networking and
EBRD Launches 2024 AgVenture Competition to Support Sustainable Agrifood Tech Startups
29/07/2024
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is excited to announce the launch of the EBRD AgVenture competition for 2024. This initiative aims to
FAO and EBRD mark new milestone in 27-year cooperation
23/07/2024
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed their 200th project recently – a
Living and breathing gastronomic traditions in Serbia
18/06/2024
Ariljska malina, a plump and vibrantly coloured raspberry, stands as one of Serbia’s crown jewels. Revered as “red gold,” this local delicacy is cherished in
A chat with some of the innovators shaping Georgia’s tea industry
24/05/2024
Georgia’s once thriving tea industry – responsible for much of the tea consumed by the former Soviet Union until its collapse in the 1980s –
Exploring a resilient and sustainable future for food retail
21/05/2024
The Sustainable Food Retail Business Forum, convened by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Warsaw on 16 April 2024, brought together industry
Accelerating Sustainable Climate-smart Agribusiness in Serbia and Uzbekistan
15/05/2024
A stakeholders’ meeting in Rome marked a pivotal step towards greater private sector engagement for climate-smart agrifood systems. It was held as part of a
Innovation is brewing in Georgia’s tea industry
10/05/2024
Today is International Tea Day! This popular drink – the second most consumed beverage after water – is an important source of economic growth, jobs
More per drop: Building resilience and adding value in Morocco’s Olive Oil Sector
24/04/2024
How best to pivot Morocco’s olive oil sector to adapt to the changing climate and leverage new opportunities in quality oil markets: two main topics
On the road to sustainable agritourism in Jordan
29/02/2024
Jordan’s delicious mix of cultural heritage and gastronomic delights is set to diversify and supplement the incomes of local food producers through investments that will
Helping minimize the misuse of antibiotics in farmed poultry in Ukraine
27/02/2024
A competition to find new ways to reduce antibiotic misuse in production animals has resulted in promising findings on how improved gut health in broiler
Joining forces to overcome Eastern Europe’s African Swine Fever threat
23/02/2024
21/02/2024 The urgency of a coordinated response to contain the threat of African Swine Fever was high on the agenda at the recent National Convention
EBRD charts direction of its new agribusiness sector strategy to meet tomorrow’s challenges
15/12/2023
FAO supported consultation with diverse stakeholders for insights Rome – Tackling the challenges that the world’s agrifood systems face today – from climate change and
Mitigating risks from pests in Egypt’s grain supplies
04/12/2023
A 3-day training course helped strengthen capacity for phytosanitary control and wireless sensor technologies in grain storage as part of broader efforts to reduce loss
Turning Tunisia’s magnificent olives into liquid gold
24/11/2023
Olive production dates back thousands of years and continues to play a vital role in Tunisia’s economy to this day, with olive groves covering about
Italian insights for stronger links between agricultural producers and tourism in Jordan
13/11/2023
On a five-day tour from 18-24 October, twelve Jordanian delegates travelled to different Italian regions to explore how to best connect local agricultural production to
Morocco’s fresh approach to Central-Eastern European horticultural trade
07/11/2023
A delegation of around twenty fruit and vegetable importers from Central and Eastern Europe visited Morocco in October 2023, with the mission to uncover burgeoning
Connecting the Dots for Open Innovation in Egypt’s Agrifood Sector
06/11/2023
Q&A with industry experts Diaa Rashwan, Regional General Manager of Innovations, Savola Foods, talked to us about why opening their company doors to external perspectives
Stimulating open innovation and investment in sustainable agrifood investment
06/11/2023
World Food Forum/Global Youth – 17 October 2023 How can young disruptive thinkers gain access to the resources they need to test their ideas in
Putting Tunisian Olive Oil on the International Map
04/11/2023
Investment Opportunities for Tunisian Olive Oil to branch into international export markets Since 2013, the Tunisian Government has been working to unlock the potential of
Expanding Egypt’s horticultural exports through improved food safety compliance
28/10/2023
Cairo, Egypt – Following a three-year project to help position Egyptian horticultural products on the global stage through improved compliance with international food safety standards, the
Finetuning prevention and early detection of African swine fever
15/10/2023
African swine fever, an infectious viral and highly lethal disease that kills pigs and wild boar, first appeared in the Balkans and the Republic of
Sowing the seeds of an agrobiodiverse tourist experience in Georgia
14/10/2023
Q&A with industry experts We asked Mariam Jorjadze, Director of Elkana, a biological farming association, if she could talk to us about agrotourism in Georgia
Uncorking the Western Balkans quality wine export market – an industry expert perspective
03/10/2023
Q&A with industry experts Frédéric Julia, International Wine Marketing Expert at Verthémis International, shares his perspectives and expertise on how the right investments, branding and
Moroccan olive oil players saw how Portuguese peers have built a thriving industry
09/08/2023
Morocco has taken steps in recent years to raise the profile of its olive oils – both at home and abroad – by improving quality
A study tour in Italy gives Jordanian and Palestinian olive oil producers food for thought
28/07/2023
A group of Palestinian and Jordanian olive producers and government representatives visited Apulia, Italy’s leading olive oil producing region, to see what it takes –
Livestock industry in Central Asia looks into digital solutions to build resilience
18/07/2023
Dairy and meat businesses in Central Asia, especially smaller ones, are being hit by multiple shocks – from the war in Ukraine, to droughts, to
From Italy to Georgia: regenerating rural communities with agritourism
26/06/2023
Exploring Georgia’s gastronomy offers tourists unique insights into the country and its culture. Enriching tourists’ experiences also has the potential to attract more visitors which
Opportunities and challenges of eating local
16/06/2023
Ahead of Sustainable Gastronomy Day (18 June), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
A cut above – Pruning for resilient olive oil production in West Bank and Gaza Strip
13/06/2023
A training program, organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Food and Agriculture Organization on pruning and irrigation best practices began
The EBRD and FAO give quality wines of the Western Balkans a boost
25/05/2023
Why the Western Balkans economies are adding wine to their export basket Wine is gaining ground when it comes to the agrifood export menus of
Sharing innovations in irrigation and pruning to help Jordan’s olive trees thrive
03/03/2023
Technical training on good pruning and irrigation techniques targeted technicians and extension service agents of the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). Practical workshops for farmers
The COVID revolution in food e-commerce
01/03/2023
The COVID-19 pandemic established food e-commerce as a global phenomenon. Lockdowns and closures drove consumers online and led to a digital transformation, with profound impacts
Georgian red wheat bread revives tradition and sparks agritourism potential
01/02/2023
When Zaza Ivanidze and his wife, Tinatin Chilingarashvili, first baked bread using flour from the ancient and endangered, local red wheat variety, akhaltsikhe tsiteli doli, on
Modernizing food safety while preserving traditions in Serbia
10/01/2023
FAO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development help update food safety measures for smallholders’ traditional culinary products. Miloš Pajić follows a recipe over
The EBRD and FAO mark 25 years of cooperation with $5.5 million initiative to help face the global grain crisis
19/12/2022
Technical assistance targets food security in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia as well as the West Bank and Gaza. With the launch of a
New online course targets a better and safer olive oil industry
25/11/2022
World Olive Tree Day is coming up and with it a chance to celebrate the importance of olive trees to people and the planet. It’s
“Open Innovation for better agribusiness” at the 2022 World Food Forum
02/11/2022
The world’s agrifood systems are being hit by multiple shocks – conflict, climate and public health crises – often at the same time. The issues
Strides towards sustainability for Jordan’s olive oil
05/10/2022
5 October 2022: Amman, Jordan. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration
Georgia is moving forward on sustainable agritourism ambitions
27/09/2022
Earlier this summer, renowned Georgian chef Guram Baghdoshvili prepared khinkali – a traditional Georgian meat-filled dumpling – on an Instagram Live hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development banks can play an important role in the transformation to less wasteful food systems
19/09/2022
29 September is International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste – an opportunity to raise awareness of practices and innovations to reduce food
War in Ukraine intensifies food security risks in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean
08/09/2022
The report, developed by FAO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), focuses on the implications of the war in Ukraine on agrifood trade
New guidelines show how Montenegrin retailers can source locally
29/07/2022
While the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted trade and global food supply chains, it also created new options and preferences among consumers for local food products. This
Carbon neutrality: Utopia or the new green wave?
20/06/2022
New FAO/EBRD report shows pathways for decarbonizing agrifood systems. A new report from FAO and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provides a
Balkan region increases its African Swine Fever vigilance
01/06/2022
FAO and the EBRD held a virtual meeting on African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Balkans. This meeting concludes a series of three webinars organized
Cultivating the burgeoning tea industries in Georgia and Azerbaijan
20/05/2022
International Tea Day 2022 is a chance to focus on the impact the tea trade has on farmers, economies and the environment. Two reports on
FAO and EBRD hold dialogue on the olive oil sector in West Bank and Gaza Strip
16/05/2022
Stakeholders discuss opportunities to develop the sector. March 2022 – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
Investment opportunities for climate-smart agrifood tech in Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic
22/04/2022
While food security is a renewed source of concern at the global level, the greening of agrifood systems remains a top priority to limit its
Boosting Egypt’s fruit and vegetable exports by improving food safety and quality
04/02/2022
EBRD and FAO organised training courses with farmers and exporters on pesticides management and microbiological contamination The Egyptian horticulture sector generated USD 2.2 billion in
Georgia eyes becoming a sustainable agritourism destination
17/12/2021
With its storied gastronomic traditions, rich cultural heritage and striking scenery from mountains to shores, Georgia has set its sights on becoming a top sustainable
Innovation is key to improving Tunisian olive oil sustainability and quality
09/12/2021
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a webinar today to present
What is it that makes Olive oil good?
26/11/2021
How one project is boosting olive oil production in Morocco. Olive oil: rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, it is a staple in many kitchens
Has COVID-19 forever changed the way we buy fresh food?
15/11/2021
New FAO and EBRD global study looks at trends in 9 cities Our food supply chains need to be able to respond to pressing demands,
New role for urban farming
10/11/2021
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today launched the first out of
Climate action in agribusiness could reduce emission by up to 7 per cent
05/11/2021
Joint EEBRD/FAO report values economic significance of potential savings of up to US$ 360 billion. Targeted action in agriculture could have a massive impact on
EBRD and FAO look at how cities are changing farming
30/08/2021
Modern urban agriculture represents an innovative response to the food requirements of an increasingly urban global population. But how do we reimagine the links between
Gaining a foothold in a crowded market
01/08/2021
FAO and EBRD help southern and eastern Mediterranean countries raise the profile of their olive oils, boosted by a new agreement between FAO and the
Sustainability drives trends in trade for Moroccan fresh produce
19/07/2021
Fruit and vegetable production and exports are an important sector for Morocco. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European
Balkan bytes: How digital agri-entrepreneurship is changing a country
14/06/2021
With FAO and EBRD support, a young social activist is wiring Montenegro’s rural heartland In March of 2021, a Montenegrin cow became the first known
Flexible food safety bylaws an opportunity for small-scale Serbian producers World Food Safety Day
07/06/2021
Keeping food safe from farm to plate is everyone’s business. In Serbia, new flexible food safety bylaws are making it easier for small-scale producers to
Apps and animations improve traditional dairy production in Kazakhstan
01/06/2021
FAO’s Collect Mobile app and Smart Milk digital portal are boosting farmers’ livelihoods. Within the vast borders of Kazakhstan, the world’s ninth largest country, about
Potential brewing for Azerbaijani and Georgian tea industries
20/05/2021
Azerbaijani and Georgian teas took centre stage during an online celebration on the eve of the second International Tea Day. The Food and Agriculture Organization
Serbia moves closer to global grain market integration
16/03/2021
Serbia, the world’s 7th largest exporter of maize Serbia to join major grain exporting and importing countries in the International Grains Council EBRD/FAO committed to open
Direct routes to Eastern Europe for Moroccan fruits and vegetables
28/01/2021
Twenty-eight Moroccan fruit and vegetable producers and traders met with representatives from the three leading logistics companies in Poland on 28 January to explore ways
Georgian vegetable producers prove that kindness is contagious
09/09/2020
A kind gesture by entrepreneur and food hero, Keti, helps other women through the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting the idea to grow herbs from an FAO-EBRD-organized
EBRD and FAO support Serbia’s efforts to increase irrigation
24/07/2020
New national strategy and action plan in the works. Government of Serbia, EBRD and FAO to support country’s agriculture New approach to increase productivity of
What’s in a name? Or better yet, what’s in a cheese?
18/06/2020
Geographical Indications help celebrate countries’ rich food heritage. Geographical Indications (GI) create pathways to sustainable development. GIs are a way to preserve local know-how, traditional