This report presents the results of a study on agricultural plastic products used globally in a range of different value chains. The study assessed the types and quantities of plastic products, their benefits and trade-offs. Sustainable alternative products or practices were identified for products assessed as having high potential to cause harm to human and ecosystem health or having poor end-of-life management. The report is based on data derived from peer-reviewed scientific papers, governmental and non-governmental organization’s research reports, as well as from industry experts, including relevant trade bodies. The report’s recommendations were verified during extensive consultation and review with FAO and external experts. The authors hope that the study will provide an impetus for discussion about the use of agricultural plastics, their benefits and trade-offs, and ultimately stimulate action to reduce their potential for harm to human health and the environment.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2023-539/ The ‘Towards Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040’ report was commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers and developed by Systemiq and presents a set of 15 global policy interventions towards ending plastic pollution. If universally adopted and supported by a set of common global rules in the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution these could cut annual volumes of mismanaged plastic waste by 90% and virgin plastic use by 30% by 2040 relative to 2019 levels. Yet, the report highlights that more ambitious efforts are needed to align with the Paris Climate Agreement and holistically address plastic pollution.

Available online: https://pub.norden.org/temanord2022-509/ The report elaborates on what sustainability criteria for plastic products may entail in a global agreement on plastic pollution. It proposes an analytical framework for sustainability criteria, situating them as the link between global objectives and implementation measures. It discusses how sustainability criteria may be incorporated in a global agreement and what operational measures can contribute to their fulfilment, emphasising that there is no one overarching criterion for sustainable production and consumption of plastic products. Rather, a range of criteria may collectively contribute towards more sustainable production, consumption, and management of plastic products throughout their lifecycle. The report further highlights the importance of considering risks of problem-shifting in the design and integration of sustainability criteria in a global agreement.

This document is a report on the technical aspects and current examples of fishing gear recycling as an option for end-of-life fishing gear waste management and pollution control. The report also discusses fishing gear recycling options in the context of circular economy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles. This report will be used for knowledge sharing, dissemination and capacity building purposes. It will assist with planning of GloLitter Partnerships pilot projects around cost–benefit analyses for end-of-life fishing gear port reception facilities, which can support fishing gear recycling. It will also assist with planning of GloLitter Partnerships phase II “pilot projects” to practically implement the proposed fishing gear recycling management systems and incentive schemes. The objectives the report are: summarize current fishing gear recycling technologies; share global case studies of fishing gear recycling initiatives; review the application of circular economy and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles to fishing gear recycling; discuss trade-offs between available fishing gear recycling options, and recommend best practices for fishing gear recycling under differing socioeconomic and environmental contexts that progress circular economy and EPR principles.

Agrifood systems are undergoing a transformation with the aim to provide safer, more affordable, and healthier diets for all, produced in a sustainable manner while delivering just and equitable livelihoods: a key to achieving the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, this transformation needs to be executed in the global context of major challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors, with drivers such as climate change, population growth, urbanization, and natural resources depletion compounding these challenges. Food safety is a keystone to agrifood systems and all food safety actors need to keep pace with the ongoing transformation while preparing to navigate the potential threats, disruptions, and challenges that may arise. Foresight in food safety facilitates the proactive identification of drivers and related trends, both within and outside agrifood systems, that have implications for food safety and therefore also for consumer health, the national economy, and international trade. Early identification and evaluation of drivers and trends promote strategic planning and preparedness to take advantage of emerging opportunities and address challenges in food safety. In this publication, the FAO Food Safety Foresight programme provides an overview of the major global drivers and trends by describing their implications for food safety in particular and for agrifood systems by extrapolation. The various drivers and trends reported include climate change, changing consumer behaviour and preferences, new food sources and production systems, technological advances, microbiome, circular economy, food fraud, among others. The intended audience for this publication is broad – from the policymakers, academia, food business operators, private sector, to all of us, the consumers.

The Action Framework (2021-2025) for the Global Action on Green Development of Special Agro-Products: “One country – One Priority Product” (OCOP) presents the rationale, main pillars, key principles, thematic areas, results framework, budget, and activity planning, coordination and implementation, and guidelines for country project application for implementation of the Global Action. Special agricultural products (SAPs) are agricultural products with unique qualities and special characteristics associated with geographical locations, farming practices and cultural heritages. They are important examples of underutilized resources, which have not received the same attention as commonly known agricultural products, but which can significantly contribute to ensuring food security and healthy diets, supporting a sustainable bioeconomy, and improving farmers’ livelihoods and economic growth while protecting the environment and biodiversity. SAPs include all kinds of agricultural products, with the potential to become national or local agricultural products, and to be integrated into local, regional, and global markets and trade. In this context, Global Action has been developed based on the renewed mission of FAO. The Global Action will promote inclusive, profitable, and environmentally sustainable value chains through optimizing the structure, functionality, and service of SAPs production systems, minimizing the application of agrochemicals, waste, and losses, and maximizing integrated agro-profits to enable the transition to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture production.