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Regional Knowledge Platform on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) in Europe and Central Asia

Supporting the sustainable development of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) in Europe and Central Asia

Amidst the complex challenges gripping the ECA region in recent times, the imperative to foster resilient and sustainable agrifood systems has surged to the forefront of global and regional agendas.

The 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference in May 2022 underscored this urgency, with member states calling for continued support in implementing transformative food system agendas, aligning with sustainable development goals.    

FAO's Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products: One Country One Priority Product (OCOP), unveiled by the Director-General in September 2021, serves as a timely framework, responding to the pressing crisis in Food, Energy, and Finance Systems that afflict the region.  

It offers a strategic roadmap, emphasizing the overhaul of agricultural value chains through innovative, sustainable, and inclusive business models tailored to selected products.    

OCOP's holistic approach spans the entirety of agricultural value chains, from production to marketing, fostering collaboration among stakeholders.   Its primary focus is on Special Agricultural Products (SAPs), distinguished by unique qualities that position them for integration into local, national, and global markets.

In the current crisis, the development of sustainable food value chains for these special agricultural products emerges as a necessary alternative strategy in the face of increasingly unreliable markets.   

Read more about the rationale and background of OCOP

To ensure the successful and impactful implementation of the OCOP initiative globally, the OCOP Steering Committee, chaired by the FAO Director-General, was established at FAO headquarters in Rome.

In addition, the OCOP Regional Organizing Group for Europe and Central Asia is being established to organize and coordinate the implementation of initiatives within the region and to support the OCOP Steering Committee.

A National Task Force for each participating Member is envisaged to carry out implementation activities at the country level and to support the Regional Organizing Group.

 

OCOP scheme Global and regional architecture: Global steering committee; regional organizing group; national task forces

  • better food and nutrition security;
  • bolstered income and livelihoods;
  • improved sustainable and inclusive value chains through better production, processing, marketing and consumption;
  • increased climate resilience and environmental sustainability; and
  • strengthened partnerships.
OCOP in Europe and Central Asia
Countries Initiatives on Special Agricultural Products (SAPs)
Building resilient agrifood systems with One Country One Priority Product in Europe and Central Asia
Events

5/ 12

2024

Webinar on sustainable value chain of chestnuts
Virtual Event, 05/12/2024

Join us for this insightful webinar on the sustainable value chain of chestnuts, the special agricultural product of Albania. The webinar is organized by the FAO One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Secretariat in collaboration with the FAO Country Office in Albania and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania. 

5/ 9

2024

6/9

2024

International Forum on Landlocked Developing Countries: Food Security and the Sustainable Development Goals
05/09/2024 - 06/09/2024

The International High-Level Forum on Landlocked Developing Countries on Food Security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is organized jointly by the Government of Uzbekistan and FAO on 5 to 6 September in Tashkent. The Forum seeks to gather key actors in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and support international institutions to share experiences and discuss common challenges.&...

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News
Celebrating 80 years of FAO: Recognizing excellence in plant production and protection
25/03/2025
To commemorate its 80th anniversary, FAO plans to recognize some of these outstanding best practices and innovative approaches in sustainable plant production and protection.

FAO invites nominations on outstanding best practices and innovative approaches in sustainable plant production and protection in the last 40 years. Research and academic institutions, extension and advisory service providers, development agencies, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and other key organizations working at the national, regional, and international levels from around the world are eligible to submit their nominations. 
Call for Innovations, Solutions, and Best Practices on Green Agriculture
08/11/2024
The FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is launching a Call for Innovations, Solutions, and Best Practices to enrich the Green Practices Repository on the Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture.
Uzbekistan promotes the FAO One Country One Priority Product initiative
30/10/2024
Sweet cherry was selected as Uzbekistan's priority product emphasizing its role in strengthening food security, supporting small farmers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. On 25 October 2024, Uzbekistan organized the first meeting of the Technical Working Group to support the National Task Force for the implementation of the OCOP initiative.
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