FAO and IFOAM – Organics International Strengthen Partnership to Advance Sustainable Agrifood Systems
Rome, 14 October 2025 — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and IFOAM – Organics International have renewed their commitment to transforming global agrifood systems through a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today at FAO Headquarters in Rome. The agreement, signed by FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and IFOAM – Organics International Executive Director Ravi R. Prasad, marks a significant step forward in fostering collaboration to accelerate the transition toward more sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems.
The partnership builds on years of fruitful collaboration and underscores a shared vision: to promote agroecology, strengthen family farming, expand Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), and enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and rural communities worldwide. Through this renewed MoU, FAO and IFOAM – Organics International will work together on initiatives that integrate sustainable production, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive market development with a particular focus on mountain regions and high-quality, locally rooted value chains.
"This renewed partnership reflects the growing recognition that strengthening our food systems requires more and better alliances,” said Ravi R. Prasad, Executive Director of IFOAM – Organics International. “No single actor can achieve sustainability in isolation. It is only by working together, across institutions, sectors, and regions, that we can realise our shared goals of healthier people, thriving ecosystems, and fair livelihoods.”
The MoU outlines areas of cooperation, including knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, capacity building, and joint advocacy to advance agroecological approaches and the goals of the UN Decade of Family Farming. Key activities will include joint events, webinars, and the development of training materials, as well as collaboration through platforms such as the Agroecology Knowledge Hub and the Family Farming Knowledge Platform.
Building on the success of past collaborations, both organisations will continue engaging in joint activities in the years ahead.
IFOAM – Organics International invites all partners and stakeholders to join the global organic community in strengthening networks, building alliances, and working collectively toward a just and sustainable future for food and farming.
