Mexico Joins FAO Initiatives to Strengthen Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience

Mexico is set to participate in a new series of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects aimed at boosting sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in rural communities. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the initiatives focus on promoting climate-smart farming, improving soil management, restoring degraded ecosystems, and reducing the environmental footprint of agricultural activity. The projects will target regions under environmental pressure, creating scalable models that can be replicated nationwide. FAO said the approach aligns with global goals on biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation, while also enhancing the productive capacity and resilience of rural populations. Mexico joins countries including India, Bangladesh, Senegal, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine in this FAO-GEF program, which has been integrating environmental objectives into agricultural development since 2006. Globally, the initiatives are expected to improve management of around 1.2 million hectares of farmland, restore over 314,000 hectares of degraded land, and mitigate up to 84.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through practices such as agroforestry, sustainable soil management, and climate-smart livestock systems. The program will reach more than 1 million people worldwide with an international investment of nearly US$60 million. In Mexico, the projects build on ongoing FAO collaborations, including the designation of amaranth as a national priority crop under the One Country, One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative. FAO supports the development of amaranth across its entire value chain, recognizing its nutritional, cultural, and environmental value. Rubén Irvin Rojas of SADER highlighted that amaranth exemplifies the country’s commitment to food sovereignty, agroecological transition, and rural well-being. “With FAO’s support, we are translating science into policy and policy into well-being for rural communities,” Rojas said. “Amaranth, small in size but great in meaning, symbolizes our roots and a shared future of resilience, well-being, and solidarity.” These initiatives mark a significant step for Mexico toward sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture while supporting rural communities and long-term environmental goals.