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FAO of the United Nations honours 28 globally important agricultural heritage systems across 14 countries
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Tuesday, 04 November, 2025, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
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Rome
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In a significant recognition of traditional agricultural wisdom, FAO recently celebrated the designation of 28 new sites from 14 countries as part of its globally important agricultural heritage systems (GIAHS) network. The award ceremony, held at FAO’s Rome headquarters, was part of the organisation’s 80th-anniversary programme.
The newly designated systems bring the global GIAHS network to a total of 102. These sites exemplify landscapes where farmers, fishers, pastoralists and forest-based communities maintain traditional knowledge, biodiversity and resilience—key ingredients for sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change.
In a recorded message, FAO director-general Qu Dongyu extended special congratulations to the local custodians of these agro-ecosystems. “These time-tested innovations offer practical lessons for protecting ecosystems, adapting to the impacts of the climate crisis, ensuring food security and safeguarding livelihoods,” he said. He emphasised the four pillars of FAO’s agenda: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.
The ceremony was attended by high-level representatives, including ministers from Andorra, São Tomé and Príncipe and Tajikistan, as well as senior officials from Mexico, Italy and Spain. A special policy dialogue brought together participants from Brazil, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Tanzania and Tunisia. Personal stories of resilience from a Maasai pastoralist leader, an Indigenous woman farmer and a haenyeo diver of Jeju island brought home how agricultural heritage serves as a living laboratory of sustainability.
An exhibition of products, stories and images from across the GIAHS network accompanied the event, and selected exhibits are now also displayed in FAO’s new food and agriculture museum and Network (MuNe) under the “tradition and innovation” section.
Since its launch in 2002 and formal adoption in 2015 as a corporate FAO programme, GIAHS has played a critical role in linking ancestral practices with innovation—supporting rural development and resilient food systems while aligning with the UN’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
This latest expansion of the GIAHS network underscores the enduring value of heritage agricultural systems keeping ancient practices alive while meeting modern challenges in food security, climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods.
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