Food and Agriculture Organization

History and Structure

• Idea of international organization for food and agriculture emerged in late 19th century
• International Institute of Agriculture created in 1905
• FAO established in Quebec City in 1945
• FAO led by Sir John Boyd Orr, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1949
• FAO dissolved IIA in 1948 and focused on research, technical assistance, and high-yield grain strains
• FAO headquarters moved to Rome in 1951
• FAO governed by Conference of Member Nations and a council of 49 member states
• FAO composed of eight departments
• Significant restructuring in 1994 led to decentralization and cost reduction
• Savings of about US$50 million a year realized

Budget and Finance

• FAO Regular Programme budget funded by members
• Budget for 2018–2019 is US$1,005.6 million
• Voluntary contributions support emergency assistance
• Contributions set at FAO Conference
• Budget covers technical work, cooperation, policy, governance, and security

Missions, Goals, and Achievements

• FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition
• Founded on 16 October 1945
• Comprises 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union
• Coordinates activities to improve agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land resources
• Conducts research, provides technical assistance, and collects agricultural data
• Codex Alimentarius: FAO and WHO created the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1961
• World Food Summit: FAO hosts the World Food Summit
• The organization works towards protecting consumer health and ensuring fair trade
• FAO develops food standards, guidelines, and texts for global coordination
• FAO collaborates with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations

World Food Summits and Priority Work Areas

• First summit in 1974 addressed famine in Africa
• Proclaimed inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition
• Global commitment to eradicate hunger and malnutrition within a decade
• Subsequent summit in 1996 established strategic plan for eliminating hunger
• FAO publishes major State of the World reports related to food and agriculture every year
• Help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition
• Make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable
• Reduce rural poverty by helping the rural poor gain access to resources and services
• Enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems
• Increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises

Partnership and Liaison Offices

• Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan
• Mexico, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Liaison Office for North America in Washington, D.C., Liaison Office with Japan in Yokohama, Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium in Brussels

Food and Agriculture Organization Data Sources