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What if protecting biodiversity could also put food on the table and money in farmers’ pockets? From restoring wetlands in Mali to safeguarding native seeds in Colombia, rural communities are showing how healthier ecosystems can strengthen livelihoods and local economies. Yet those who protect nature often receive the fewest financial benefits. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) outlines , combining ecosystem restoration, community leadership, fair financing and access to markets to create lasting opportunities for people and the planet.
From flooded fields to drought-stricken farms, climate change is reshaping how we grow food, while Viet Nam and Sri Lanka show how to protect harvests and cut emissions.
From 19–23 October, the world gathers in Rome for the 54th session of the , a global platform dedicated to tackling hunger and malnutrition and advancing the right to food. Discussions will focus on food security, coordinated responses to food crises and resilient food systems. The agenda will also address Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems, support for family farmers, and ways to empower women through equal access to resources, financing and decision-making to build more inclusive and sustainable food systems. Follow the sessions on .
Rural women feed communities, sustain livelihoods, and safeguard natural resources, yet their rights, resources and decision-making power fall short of their contributions. Under the theme “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature”, this International Day of Rural Women (15 October) celebrates their work conserving seeds, protecting biodiversity, managing water and restoring land. In the context of the the day calls for direct investment in rural women, equal rights and resources, and greater leadership in shaping agricultural and environmental policies.
The world produces enough food for all, yet 645 million people still face hunger and 2.69 billion cannot afford a healthy diet. Conflict, economic instability and climate shocks are straining agrifood systems, making access to reliable, affordable and nutritious food increasingly difficult. Under the theme “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow”, on 16 October highlights science, technology, innovation and traditional knowledge as tools to build resilient agrifood systems that feed people today while protecting resources for future generations. Watch the ceremony on and celebrate
Reducing food loss and waste can fight hunger and climate change by improving food security, cutting emissions, and strengthening sustainable food systems.
Before it reaches the table, every cup of coffee begins in the soil and in the knowledge and labor of farming communities. From farms and forests to ports, cafés and homes, coffee connects people across borders and generations. Yet behind this daily ritual lies an unequal journey: smallholder producers bear rising costs and risks while receiving a fraction of the value they create. This year, 1 October marks the first observance of International Coffee Day, celebrating coffee’s cultural and economic role and calling for a fairer, more resilient and sustainable future for all who depend on it.
Reducing food loss and waste helps to protect natural resources and biodiversity, reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and maximize the use of food produced. It is therefore central to improving food security and health, securing sustainable agrifood systems, and fighting climate change. On the (29 September), we urge everyone to take action to expand and strengthen individual and collective efforts to reduce food loss and waste and help ensure a food-secure world.
Forecast-based action, resilient crops, efficient irrigation, diversification, and integrated support systems help farmers withstand El Niño shocks and strengthen long-term food security.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Victorine Akoua farms the same land as her parents, but the rains and seasons they once relied on have changed. Facing costly loans and an unpredictable climate, she found another way forward: saving and borrowing with other women in her village. With affordable credit and training supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Victorine now grows vegetables using compost and other sustainable practices, earning more while feeding her family. Women like Sonia France Boa are also pooling savings, farming together and reinvesting their earnings. Their experience shows how shared finance, practical skills and solidarity can help women build livelihoods and face climate change together.
On 16 October, unites people across 150 countries to build a sustainable food future and ensure nutritious food for everyone.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, women are strengthening food security, livelihoods and communities. In Belize, teacher Elevernie Davis has turned a school garden into a living classroom, where children learn agricultural skills while growing fresh vegetables for nutritious school meals. Some students have even started gardens at home, sharing what they learn with their families. Nearly 800 students and more than 50 teachers have been trained. From Belize to Brazil, Guatemala, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic, women are showing how knowledge and opportunity can help build more sustainable food systems. The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 offers a unique opportunity to place women farmers at the centre of the agrifood systems agenda and accelerate action.
Women scientists are helping turn soil into a source of solutions for Mozambique’s farmers. At the country’s Agricultural Research Institute, StĂlia Vilanculos and Janete Americano analyse soils and turn the results into practical advice on crops and farming. Through the FAO-supported SoilFER programme, laboratories are gaining new equipment, training and closer links with farmers. By strengthening local expertise and access to reliable soil information, the initiative aims to improve soil health, farm productivity and food security while helping agriculture cope with drought and changing weather.
In Mongolia’s Töv province, dairy farmer Otgo Dashdorj sings to keep her cows calm — and producing more milk. After 27 years as nomadic herders, she and her husband settled three years ago as harsher winters, drought and degrading grasslands made traditional herding increasingly difficult. Now, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization and partners, Otgo is using better feed, digital tools and climate-smart farming practices to strengthen her business. She hopes to double her herd to 40 cows and eventually pass the farm — and her secret of singing to happy cows — to her veterinarian son.