Food and Agriculture Organization

**History and Establishment**:
– Idea of international organization for food and agriculture emerged in late 19th and early 20th century
– International Institute of Agriculture (IIA) created in 1905
– World War II led to the establishment of FAO in 1945
– FAO focused on high-yield grain strains, rural employment, and agricultural exports in the 1960s
– Launched FAO Money and Medals Programme in 1968

**Structure and Finance**:
– FAO headquarters moved to Rome, Italy in 1951
– Governed by Conference of Member Nations and a council of 49 member states
– Composed of eight departments
– Restructuring in 1994 led to cost savings of about US$50 million per year
– Regular Programme budget funded by member contributions, totaling US$1,005.6 million for 2018-2019

**Mission and Activities**:
– Specialized agency of the United Nations
– Leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition
– Comprises 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union
– Helps governments and development agencies coordinate activities to improve agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land resources

**Achievements and Initiatives**:
– Established to address hunger and malnutrition
– Played key role in creating UN World Food Programme
– Convened first World Food Summit in 1974
– Publishes major State of the World reports annually
– Issued over a hundred medal designs through FAO Money and Medals Programme

**Partnerships, Priority Work Areas, and Programs**:
– Partnership and Liaison Offices in various countries
– Priority work areas include eliminating hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, making agriculture more sustainable, reducing rural poverty, and enhancing agricultural and food systems
– Programs like Codex Alimentarius Commission and World Food Summit, created in collaboration with WHO.