Why this matters now
FAO is tested for: founded 16 OCT 1945 at Quebec City Canada as first UN specialised agency; HQ Rome; 195 members; DG QU Dongyu (China, since 1 Aug 2019); WORLD FOOD DAY observed 16 October annually; State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report annual joint with WFP+UNICEF+WHO+IFAD; Codex Alimentarius Commission joint with WHO 1963 sets international food standards; Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; flagship initiatives — 1 Country 1 Priority Product (OCOP), Hand-in-Hand initiative, Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS); INDIA-LED International Year of Millets 2023 adopted by UNGA on India’s proposal 5 Mar 2021; India hosts CGIAR + FAO 79th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2023.
India & FAO
- India founding member 1945.
- Major India initiatives at FAO: International Year of Millets 2023 — UNGA resolution 5 Mar 2021 on India’s proposal; PM Modi hosted Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference 18-20 Mar 2023 New Delhi.
- International Year of Cooperatives 2025 — India proposed.
- India’s 4 sites declared GIAHS Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: Koraput (Odisha, traditional farming, 2012), Kuttanad (Kerala, below-sea-level rice, 2013), Pampore (J&K, saffron, 2011), Goan Khazan (mangrove polders, 2024).
- India contributes to FAO budget + hosts FAO India office (New Delhi).
- India’s pulses + millets export pushed via FAO.
Major FAO publications
| Publication | Frequency |
|---|---|
| State of Food Security and Nutrition (SOFI) | Annual; joint FAO + WFP + UNICEF + WHO + IFAD. |
| State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) | Biennial. |
| State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) | Annual. |
| State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) | Biennial. |
| FAO Food Price Index | Monthly; benchmark global food commodity prices (cereals, oils, dairy, meat, sugar). |
| Crop Prospects + Food Situation | Quarterly. |
Codex Alimentarius Commission
- Joint FAO + WHO body founded 1963.
- Sets international food standards — labelling, additives, contaminants, hygiene practices, residue limits (pesticides, vet drugs).
- WTO SPS Agreement references Codex standards as the benchmark for food safety in international trade.
- India is a member; Codex Contact Point: FSSAI.
- BIS coordinates India’s positions.
UPSC angle
Know FAO FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION — FOUNDED 16 OCT 1945 QUEBEC CITY CANADA as FIRST UN SPECIALISED AGENCY; HQ ROME Viale delle Terme di Caracalla; 195 MEMBERS 194 STATES + EU; DG QU DONGYU CHINA since 1 AUG 2019 second term till 2027; WORLD FOOD DAY observed 16 OCTOBER annually; STATE OF FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION IN THE WORLD (SOFI) annual joint FAO + WFP + UNICEF + WHO + IFAD; CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION joint FAO + WHO 1963 sets international food standards REFERENCED BY WTO SPS AGREEMENT; Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; flagship 1 COUNTRY 1 PRIORITY PRODUCT OCOP + HAND-IN-HAND + GIAHS Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems; INDIA-LED INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF MILLETS 2023 UNGA resolution 5 MAR 2021 on India proposal; PM MODI hosted Global Millets (SHREE ANNA) Conference 18-20 MAR 2023 New Delhi; INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF COOPERATIVES 2025 India proposed; India 4 GIAHS sites KORAPUT Odisha 2012 + KUTTANAD Kerala below-sea-level rice 2013 + PAMPORE J&K saffron 2011 + GOAN KHAZAN mangrove polders 2024; FAO India office New Delhi; CODEX India member contact point FSSAI BIS coordinates; major reports SOFI annual + SOFIA biennial fisheries + SOFA annual + SOFO biennial forests + FAO FOOD PRICE INDEX monthly benchmark (cereals oils dairy meat sugar) + Crop Prospects quarterly.
Frequently asked questions
When was FAO founded?
16 October 1945 at Quebec City, Canada — the first UN specialised agency. Date observed globally as World Food Day. HQ at Rome.
Who is the FAO DG?
QU Dongyu of China — since 1 August 2019. Re-elected in 2023 for a second term to 2027.
What is the Codex Alimentarius?
International food standards body created jointly by FAO + WHO in 1963. Sets safety + quality standards referenced by the WTO SPS Agreement as the benchmark in international food trade. India’s contact point is FSSAI.
What was the International Year of Millets 2023?
UN General Assembly resolution of 5 March 2021 on India’s proposal declaring 2023 the International Year of Millets. PM Modi hosted the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference at New Delhi 18-20 March 2023, kicking off the year.