Partnerships are increasingly the foundation of successful development initiatives and are essential to addressing the global challenges facing the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, and for ensuring the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
To catalyze positive impacts, foster solidarity, and scale up successful solutions, FAO actively recognizes technical excellence.
In 2025, 238 recipients were celebrated at the Technical Recognition ceremony at historical time to celebrate FAO 80 anniversary during the World Food Forum for their contribution to solutions powering effective and sustainable agrifood systems transformation. Their work spans a variety of areas, including soil health, reforestation, alpine hazelnut production, aquaculture, flood alert systems and climate adaptation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The ceremony was designed to shine a light on the work of ministries, research centers, universities, private sector entities and community organizations across six broad technical areas: livestock, South-South and Triangular Cooperation, land, soil and water resource management, aquatic food systems, forest production and protection, and plant production and protection.
FAO acknowledged and highlighted the science and technology-based innovations that are essential in the pursuit of global food security. Those recognized are involved in both large and small projects across 90 countries, reflecting Director-General QU Dongyu’s unwavering commitment to fostering agrifood systems that sustain livelihoods and leave no one behind.
These recognitions provide platforms for knowledge sharing and inspiration, embodying the Director-General’s adage that “the transformation to modern agrifood systems is only possible when we work together.”
44th Session of the FAO Conference – Inaugural FAO Treaty Ceremony and FAO Champion and Partnership Awards. © FAO / Cristiano Minichiello
Emblematic examples
One of the standout projects among the more than 1,300 nominations considered was Saudi Arabia’s Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi REEF, a large scale government initiative aiming to help small farmers diversify into livelihood-enhancing crops such as coffee, honey, decorative flowers, aromatic plants and rainfed crops as well as small livestock sand fisheries.
The ongoing effort, jointly implemented by FAO and the Kingdom’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has positively impacted more than 120,000 people and created nearly as many jobs, both directly and indirectly. It offers a menu of assistance ranging from more than $2 billion in financial aid, training and technology, and has demonstrably lifted rural incomes and raised the production of agricultural goods by 250 million kilograms.
The National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center of China was recognized for its soil nutrient testing scheme, which analyzed 100 million samples across nearly 4,300 million hectares of farmland. This initiative contributed to the development of tailored fertilizer formulas for key food crops. In Brazil, the Federal University of Paraná implemented a hyperlocal method for treating cattle to control ticks and reduce acaricide resistance. Meanwhile, Algeria’s Biotechnology Research Centre pioneered improved methods for conserving lentil germplasm through gene banks, enhancing accessibility for local farmers.
Also recognized was the Great Green Wall, Africa’s flagship initiative to combat land degradation, build climate resilience and boost livelihoods, first envisioned in 2005 that has evolved into the world’s largest nature-based solution aimed at comprehensive rural transformation. Today, the initiative links environmental restoration with poverty reduction and food security. It has restored more than 20 million hectares and created over 350 000 jobs in 11 countries, with ambitions to restore 100 million hectares, sequester 250 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent and transform 10 million livelihoods by 2030.
As one of the founding partners of the Great Green Wall, FAO has played a crucial role in enhancing the initiative’s technical excellence and scalability. By combining technical expertise with capacity building, FAO has helped transform the initiative into a replicable global model for integrated, inclusive, and technically sound land restoration that contributes to poverty reduction, food security, and environmental goals.
In Peru’s Amazon region, Acate Amazon Conservation, a non-profit organization based in Peru and the United States of America that has developed an extraordinary collaboration with with the Matsés and Kukama Indigenous communities, has developed an integrated aquaculture and agroforestry model that delivers multiple benefits to local communities living in areas deeply affected by climate change and forest degradation. Some 35 sites across the Javari and Marañón river systems now combine native fish farming production with reforestation, medicinal plant cultivation, and biodiversity conservation.
Their work, which has led to notable nutritional gains for local children and easing pressures that drive slash-and-burn agriculture, replicates and upscales FAO’s own work in making sure Indigenous Peoples are included in development efforts from inception to outcome, ensuring they benefit from such efforts and enabling them to contribute their invaluable local knowledge.
Recognition of the Confederation of African Small-Scale Fisheries Professional Organizations (CAOPA) reflected that consortium’s excellence in inclusive fisheries governance, spanning 29 countries and supporting the adoption of FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. CAOPA’s work has implemented a commendable commitment to women’s leadership and alliances with regional trade groups and non-state actors.
Another standout ample is the Somalia Land and Information (SWALIM) programme, which in the wake of devastating floods along the Shabelle and Juba rivers introduced a data-driven early-warning voice able to protect at-risk communities and their farmlands.
Its utility was quickly evidenced when before a massive flooding event in Belet Weyne, 90 percent of the people were able to safely evacuate, and 30,000 farming households received early assistance including cash, storage tools and seeds. SWALIM, technically managed by FAO, is rapidly expanding across the country and into new aeras of work.
