Food and Agriculture Organization

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was set up in 1945 as a specialized agency of the UN. Its aims are to raise levels of nutrition, increase standards of living, improve agricultural productivity and to better the conditions of rural populations. The FAO recognizes the importance of biotechnology in achieving its aims, particularly in increasing productivity for food security. However, it also recognizes potential risks to humans, the environment and biodiversity from biotechnological applications.

The FAO administers many international treaties, of which the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) is just one.

The FAO has 188 member states (as of 29 November 2003) and the European Union is its only member organization.