Celebrating 80 years of FAO: Recognizing excellence in plant production and protection
Since its founding in 1945, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has led global efforts to achieve universal food security and nutrition through the transformation of agrifood systems. This year marks an important milestone as FAO celebrates its 80th anniversary.
Plant production and protection remain central to FAO’s mission, as approximately 80 percent of the world’s food are derived from plants. Over the past 40 years, global plant production and protection systems have evolved significantly to ‘produce more with less’. The significantly increased productivity of various cropping systems has resulted from enhanced farmers’ access to quality seeds and planting materials of suitable crop varieties, innovative agronomic practices, and sustainable plant health management. All of these have been enabled by scientific and technological advancements in various domains of crop sciences and context-specific agricultural advisory services.
To commemorate its 80th anniversary, FAO plans to recognize some of these outstanding best practices and innovative approaches in sustainable plant production and protection, which have occurred in the last 40 years.
Recognition categories
These technical recognitions will be given in the following five domains:
- Management of crop germplasm, including collecting, conservation, characterization, evaluation, documentation, and distribution of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
- Development and adoption of progressively improved crop varieties, including those grown for food, feed, fiber, oil, ornamental, and industrial purposes.
- Advancements in agronomic practices, including context-specific cropping systems, efficiencies in the use of natural resources and inputs, and sustainable agricultural mechanization and digitalization.
- Plant health management, including integrated pest and disease management, phytosanitary measures, and sound pesticide use and management.
- Technology transformation and promotion, including agricultural extension and advisory services, and enabling environment for agrifood systems development.
Selection process and timeline
Eligible nominees
FAO invites nominations on demonstrated best practices and innovative approaches in the above five domains of sustainable plant production and protection in the last 40 years from provincial, national, regional, and international research and academic institutions, extension and advisory service providers, development agencies, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and other key stakeholders.
Nomination Process
Submissions are open until 30 June 2025. Late or incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Recipents
A selection panel established by FAO will review the nominations. Selected nominees will receive the recognition during the World Food Forum’s FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods, 10-13 October 2025.
Join us in celebrating 80 years of FAO and showcasing best practices and innovative approaches shaping the future of sustainable plant production and protection!
