Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

• Description. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger both in developed and developing countries. It acts as a neutral forum where all nations negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information that helps countries modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. It was established as a specialized United Nations agency during the first session of FAO Conference on 1945 in Quebec City, Canada.
• Mission. FAO aims to achieve food security for all by making sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
• Mandate. FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy by providing behind-the-scenes assistance that helps people and nations help themselves.
• Administration. The current Director-General, Dr Jacques Diouf of Senegal, was elected on 8 November 1993 and began his first six-year term in January 1994. After completing a second term, Dr Diouf was re-elected to a third six-year term, which began in January 2006.
• Members. FAO has 191 member nations, one associate member and one member organization, the European Union.
• Offices. Besides its headquarters in Rome, FAO is present in over 130 countries. The decentralized network includes five regional offices, 11 subregional offices, two multidisciplinary teams, 74 fully fledged country offices (excluding those hosted in regional and subregional offices), eight offices with technical officers/FAO Representatives, and 36 countries covered through multiple accreditation. In addition, the Organization maintains five liaison offices and four information offices in developed countries.
• Website. http://www.fao.org/

Source:

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations website at http://www.fao.org/about/en/.