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Report of the Ninth Session of the Central Asian and Caucasus Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 25–26 November 2025
No full textThe 2025 Session of the Central Asian and Caucasus Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CACFish) was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 25–26 November and hosted by the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan. The meeting brought together four Member States: Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Türkiye, along with five participating non-Member States: Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The Commission reviewed key decisions and recommendations from FAO Regional Conferences, Committees and Regional Fisheries Bodies, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that regional priorities are reflected in global and regional policy processes. The Secretariat presented administrative and financial updates, noting improved compliance by one Member State while persistent arrears from two others continue to challenge financial sustainability. Membership expansion was identified as a positive development, with additional countries expected to join as accession processes advance.Technical discussions focused on adapting FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture to the regional context, advancing zoning and site selection, developing a fisheries data collection system and adopting non-binding Best Practice Guidance on Occupational Safety and Health. The Commission acknowledged its expanding technical scope and achievements during the intersessional period, reaffirming its role in addressing regional challenges.The Session approved an autonomous annual budget of USD 180 000 for 2025–2026, endorsed revisions to the Rules of Procedure and adopted the work programme for 2025–2027, underscoring CACFish’s commitment to advancing sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development in the region
Stakeholder roundtable meeting report, Toronto, Canada, 10 October 2024
No full textInnovative food production processes, such as cell-based food and precision fermentation, are gaining attention as complementary approaches to conventional agriculture, with the potential to contribute to food security and sustainability. However, these emerging technologies also raise food safety concerns to be addressed early in their development. Understanding the specific production steps, input materials, and characteristics of final products is critical for science-based safety assessments. Yet, many countries face knowledge gaps and may have limited resources or capacity to effectively assess the safety of these new foods.To support evidence-based decision-making and foster international dialogue, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has convened annual stakeholder roundtable meetings since 2022. These events bring together experts from government, academia, and industry to share technical developments, regulatory experiences, and good practices. This report summarizes the outcomes of the third roundtable, held in Toronto, Canada, in October 2024, in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The meeting featured technical presentations, case studies, and a special session on Canada’s novel food regulatory framework.Key themes that emerged from the discussions included the importance of transparency, early engagement with regulators, and clear, consistent terminology. Participants underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration and information exchange to address ongoing challenges such as high production costs, data requirements, and regulatory uncertainty. The insights shared in this report will inform future guidance and contribute to ongoing efforts to ensure that innovation in food production proceeds safely, transparently, and inclusively
Group of National Focal Points nominated for the work on Microorganism and Invertebrate Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
No full textProject code: GCP/LEB/027/SCF, GEF ID 5125
No full textThe project objective was to achieve climate resilience for vulnerable forest ecosystems and rural mountain communities, through the promotion of environmental governance by integrating community-based and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches. The evaluation found that the project was highly relevant and aligned with national priorities, however the limited community participation diminished its significance to targeted communities. While the project showed high technical delivery capacity, delays and staffing issues impacted effectiveness, particularly in fostering community engagement and capacity building. Inefficient time management and an outdated exit strategy further hindered efficiency and reduced the potential for sustainability. The extension's primary value lies in completing the generation of significant forestry data to be accessible through a monitoring unit at the National Center for Remote Sensing, though operationalizing plans remains uncertain. Based on the above, the evaluation recommended to design and implement a follow-up project to facilitate and support a participatory validation process of the forest management plans in the respective communities
5 November 2025
No full textMeeting summary from Mountain Partnership Steering Committee meeting held on 5 November 202
Report of the Fifth Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing. Manta, Ecuador, 21–25 April 2025.
No full textThe Parties reviewed the results of the 2024 questionnaires for the review and assessment of the effectiveness of the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA). Parties reported on a wide range of activities to implement the PSMA and highlighted implementation challenges. Appreciation was expressed for recent enhancements to the Global Information Exchange System (GIES). The Parties noted that information exchange is the backbone of the PSMA supporting the essential work of Parties, RFMOs and other international instruments in combating IUU fishing. The Parties agreed to designate a national general/administrative coordinator through a dedicated new section in the GIES. Terms of Reference for the Strategy and Monitoring Working Group (SMWG) and Terms of Reference for a taskforce on the sustainable functioning of the PSMA were adopted. The Parties commended the technical assistance provided by FAO through the Global Capacity Development Programme and reiterated the importance of recurrent training in support of the implementation of the PSMA and complementary international instruments. Support was expressed for formulating indicators for monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of the PSMA that are simple and straightforward and considered that indicators should be used as part of a broader monitoring process conducted by the SMWG and the Meeting of the Parties. The programme of work was discussed and the Parties agreed on a schedule of PSMA meetings
