Press Release

From Fields to Front Pages: FAO Marks 80th Anniversary with Media Dialogue in Armenia

15 September 2025

The share of agriculture in Armenia’s economy is decreasing, thought the sector remains vital particularly for food security, and rural livelihoods. However, the sector often struggles to capture sustained attention. To bridge this gap, Raimund Jehle, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Armenia hosted a breakfast dialogue with leading journalists on 3 September aiming to strengthen cooperation with the press and media to place agriculture firmly on the public agenda.

Caption: Raimund Jehle, the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Armenia hosted a breakfast dialogue with leading journalists.

Photo: © FAO

The dialogue underscored the important role also of media, their reporting is key contribution to awareness raising and evidence building and therefore, policy priorities, investment decisions, and amplify the voices of farmers and rural communities.

In his remarks Jehle highlighted key goals of the Organization considering its 80th anniversary in 2025. He touched on the key contribution of FAO in Armenia since Armenia became a member of FAO in 1993 and the opening of the Representation in 2024. Since then FAO has implemented more than 150 project with a total volume of almost 100 million USD in areas such as forestry, fisheries, plant and animal production, plant health, animal health, food safety but also policy support, rural development, food security and social protection working directly with beneficiaries, public institutions and the Civil Society and providing a forum for knowledge exchange, debate and capacity development.

“Media plays a vital role in shaping public opinion and raising awareness about agriculture” noted Jehle. “By reporting on both the challenges and opportunities in the sector, journalists can help amplify the voices of farmers, showcase innovative practices, and draw attention to the importance of rural development for Armenia’s overall progress.”

The discussion was lively and interactive. Journalists raised a wide range of questions, from pesticide use and residues to how best to cover sensitive issues such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Their questions reflected not only the complexity of agricultural reporting but also the strong interest of Armenian media in engaging with food and farming topics in a more informed way. Participants discussed how agricultural issues are currently covered, the challenges journalists face in accessing data and technical expertise, and opportunities for stronger collaboration. The dialogue made clear that keeping agriculture in the headlines is a shared responsibility of international organizations, policymakers, and the media alike.

The breakfast concluded with FAO’s commitment to supporting Armenian journalists with knowledge and resources, encouraging them to pay greater attention to agriculture in their work and deepen coverage of agricultural topics. By fostering stronger media engagement, FAO seeks to stimulate informed public debate, elevate agriculture on the national agenda, and contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable food system in Armenia.