Evaluation of the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean 2017–2020

Evaluation of the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean 2017–2020
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 92
Release: 2021-12-09
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9251354545

This evaluation had the purpose of assessing the performance and added value of the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC), taking into account the role of the regional initiatives as mechanisms to facilitate such work. It was found that the support provided, especially for the escalation of results, has been substantive and useful, however, there is no institutional strategy that promotes the identification of factors that promote upscaling of programmes based on organizational learning. Recommendations were drawn up to improve the relevance of the work around the regional initiatives, as well as to promote the scaling up of programmes, the implementation of policies for the inclusion of gender perspectives and of indigenous, Afrodescendant and tribal peoples, the generation and use of evidence as a basis for decision-making, and to address the new context derived from COVID-19.

Terminal evaluation of the project “Integrated management of marine and coastal areas of high value for biodiversity in continental Ecuador”

Terminal evaluation of the project “Integrated management of marine and coastal areas of high value for biodiversity in continental Ecuador”
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 94
Release: 2021-09-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 925134860X

In order to safeguard the high biodiversity value in coastal and mangrove areas in Ecuador, this project, with support from GEF, sought to develop an integrated management approach for the use and conservation of coastal and marine areas of high biodiversity value, by establishing conservation areas, strengthening mangrove concessions and integrating biodiversity conservation in fisheries management within conservation areas. It also sought to improve and sustain the livelihood of coastal communities depending on near shore fisheries, in particular fishermen and women of red and brown shell crab in the Gulf of Guayaquil and estuary of Cayapas - Mataje. The project suffered from numerous changes in the political landscape and a challenging implementation architecture; nevertheless, it remains relevant and overall achieved its stated objectives. The evaluation found the need to strengthen the alternatives production side of interventions to the same level as those pertaining to environmental protection in Ecuador.

Evaluation of FAO’s role and work on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

Evaluation of FAO’s role and work on antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 87
Release: 2021-03-05
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251340749

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to fight antimicrobial compounds, reducing the efficacy of treating diseases in humans, animals, and plants. AMR risk is outpacing human population growth, owing to misuse of antimicrobials in large quantities in food systems, and is a serious threat to food security and sustainable development. FAO, with the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is supporting countries in developing and implementing their One Health National Action Plans on AMR. The eventual aim is to ensure sustainable use of antimicrobials to minimize AMR risks, in alignment with the Global Action Plan on AMR. The scope of the evaluation covers FAO’s entire work on AMR up to early 2020 and its role in the global AMR architecture. It examines FAO’s organizational and institutional set-up for AMR work. FAO has a strong mandate to work on AMR, implementing activities in 45 countries and providing far-reaching support on AMR National Action Plans (NAPs). FAO’s technical expertise is a key comparative advantage in its work on AMR. It is underpinned by the strong scientific grounding of FAO’s work, engendered in its AMR working groups and supported by its collaboration with research centers, universities, and the Tripartite organizations. Nevertheless, the work is relatively recent and, given the long impact pathways, it has had limited results. A comprehensive strategic and programmatic approach would increase the likelihood of achieving results in combating AMR. FAO should prioritize its work in a long-term strategy on AMR that recognizes the seriousness of the threat and is fully integrated into the Organization’s Strategic Framework. The strategy should set out FAO’s long-term role in combating AMR and that of its divisions and offices, as well as its approach at the country and regional level. FAO should consolidate its work on AMR through a strong programmatic approach with a central coordination and management structure that links with the Regional Offices and is supported by dedicated core funding.

Mid-term evaluation of the project “Mainstreaming sustainable land development and management”

Mid-term evaluation of the project “Mainstreaming sustainable land development and management”
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2022-02-03
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9251357099

The mid-term evaluation of the project "Mainstreaming sustainable land development and management” was executed by the Guyana Land Survey Commission (GLSC), implemented by FAO and funded by the Guyana Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) Investment Fund (GRIF). Overall project effectiveness and efficiency is low: implementation is slow and few outputs and outcomes have been achieved. The main reasons are the poor communication and collaboration between GLSC and FAO, and insufficient delivery of their roles and responsibilities. Recently, improved communication between GLSC and FAO has generated better collaboration. The evaluation made a series of recommendations to improve project delivery during the remainder of the implementation period.

The impact of disasters and crises on agriculture and food security: 2021

The impact of disasters and crises on agriculture and food security: 2021
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2021-03-17
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9251340714

On top of a decade of exacerbated disaster loss, exceptional global heat, retreating ice and rising sea levels, humanity and our food security face a range of new and unprecedented hazards, such as megafires, extreme weather events, desert locust swarms of magnitudes previously unseen, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Agriculture underpins the livelihoods of over 2.5 billion people – most of them in low-income developing countries – and remains a key driver of development. At no other point in history has agriculture been faced with such an array of familiar and unfamiliar risks, interacting in a hyperconnected world and a precipitously changing landscape. And agriculture continues to absorb a disproportionate share of the damage and loss wrought by disasters. Their growing frequency and intensity, along with the systemic nature of risk, are upending people’s lives, devastating livelihoods, and jeopardizing our entire food system. This report makes a powerful case for investing in resilience and disaster risk reduction – especially data gathering and analysis for evidence informed action – to ensure agriculture’s crucial role in achieving the future we want.

Review of biological data, spatial distribution of the stocks and ecological connectivity between areas beyond national jurisdiction and the exclusive economic zones in the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission region

Review of biological data, spatial distribution of the stocks and ecological connectivity between areas beyond national jurisdiction and the exclusive economic zones in the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission region
Author: Arocha, F.
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2024-01-25
Genre: Law
ISBN: 925138469X

This review was developed as a project in response to the needs of the Intersessional Working Group of WECAFC in its task of identifying key options and priorities. The review describes a group of selected species that are considered to be important to Member States of the WECAFC. It classifies them into transboundary and straddling/highly migratory stocks and their fisheries and provides information on the state of exploitation of the selected species. The review also considers the ecological connectivity between the high seas and the EEZs of coastal nations. Lastly, it highlights issues that need to be addressed to generate a sound scientific knowledge base in support of the strategic reorientation of the Commission.

FAO: Challenges and Opportunities in a Global World

FAO: Challenges and Opportunities in a Global World
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 325
Release: 2019-05-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 925131411X

This illustrated volume identifies the challenges and opportunities facing food and agriculture in the context of the 2030 Agenda, presents solutions for a more sustainable world and shows how FAO has been working in recent years to support its Member Nations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Fungi for Human Health

Fungi for Human Health
Author: Uzma Azeem
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030587568

Current research lays emphasis on exploring natural products for use in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals to overcome various side effects of synthetic drugs. Fungi occupy an eminent position among natural sources of food and medicinal importance since ancient times. Many fungal species have been eaten as food and used in folk medicine for the treatment of many human ailments as mentioned in traditional medical literature. However, scanty information is available pertaining to the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical importance of fungi which merits an extensive review. This book spotlights the use value macrofungi in human health. Macrofungi with health benefitting properties largely belong to Basidiomycota followed by Ascomycota growing indoor (cultivated) and outdoor (wild). We endeavoured to throw light on the benefits of macrofungal taxa in relation to their food and medicinal significance in human life. We provided knowledge pertaining to the ethnomycological significance of macrofungi with respect to their uses as food and medicine by the people inhabiting different parts of the world. This book highlights the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds present in macrofungi. We also focused on the pharmacological activities of macrofungi contributing towards their medicinal value against several human disorders. We cited many commercially available nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products of macrofungal origin. This work will hopefully serve as a basic reference for general public, mycologists, researches and industry men, interested in consumption, research and marketing of macrofungi.