#19,295
Even in years when we aren't facing a looming, and likely record-setting, El Nino - which may bring unexpected droughts and floods, or searing heat, to different parts of the world - the agricultural sector regularly faces numerous threats, including emerging and reemerging disease threats (avian flu, African Swine Fever, and New World Screwworm, etc.)
Add in rising diesel fuel costs, fertilizer shortages, falling water tables, wildfires, hail, soil erosion, and a host of other threats, and it is no wonder that so many farmers (and consumers) are under increasing economic pressure.
While most of these threats are beyond our control, we can prepare for them; which is the overriding message of an 84-page FAO guidance document released this past week for agricultural interests in Europe and Asia, but which most is applicable worldwide.
First, some excerpts from an FAO news release, followed by a link and a brief summary for the the document.
Expect the unexpected – FAO guidance on emergency response preparedness
© FAO/Igor Salinger
13/08/2026
Natural hazards are unavoidable. The way we mitigate and manage them is within our control – and preparedness is the first line of defence.
The Europe and Central Asia region is vulnerable to several types of natural hazards, including floods, storms, droughts, wildfires and landslides. Due to the effects of climate change, climate-related hazards in particular have increased in frequency and intensity over the past few decades.
The agriculture sector and food security are heavily impacted by these phenomena. FAO estimates that the agriculture sector absorbs more than 26 percent of total economic costs from climate-related disasters.
National governments have a responsibility to act when – and before – disasters occur. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released the publication Guidelines on emergency response preparedness in agriculture in Europe and Central Asia, providing a comprehensive and practical framework to support governments and partners in strengthening disaster preparedness for effective emergency response in the agriculture sector.
Why is preparedness non-negotiable?
Preparedness measures not only lessen the time and money spent on disaster response, but also reduce agricultural damage and loss. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), every USD 1 invested in disaster risk reduction can save up to USD 15 in post-disaster recovery – investing in preparedness, therefore, literally pays off.
“Consisting of two parts, the guidelines cover measures related to each agricultural subsector regarding the impacts of various hazards, such as droughts, heatwaves, hurricanes, floods, forest fires, plant and animal pests and diseases, and include specific case studies that focus on the Europe and Central Asia region,” explains Daniela Mangione, FAO Field Programme Officer and Resilience Focal Point at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, who provided technical guidance for the publication. “Smallholder farmers are especially susceptible to the adverse effects of disasters and hazards, as their lives and livelihoods are largely dependent on the agricultural sector. By investing in risk reduction, which includes increasing preparedness for response, countries contribute to building more sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems, better equipped to handle future shocks and stresses.”
Guidelines on emergency response preparedness in agriculture in Europe and Central Asia
Year of publication 2026
ISBN 978-92-5-140771-4
Permanent link
https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/ce0228en
To cite or share
https://doi.org/10.4060/ce0228enSynopsis (short abstract)
Across the Europe and Central Asia region, the increasing frequency and severity of various types of hazards – from droughts and floods to animal and plant pests, diseases, and wildfires - are adversely impacting agrifood systems and food security. In this context, preparedness is no longer optional; it is a strategic cost-effective strategy to help countries protect livelihoods, especially of smallholder farmers who are at risk and vulnerable to the adverse impacts of these hazards.
Reducing disaster risks and impacts, through enhancing preparedness for response is crucial to build agrifood systems that are more sustainable and resilient to future shocks and stresses. These guidelines provide a comprehensive and practice framework to support governments and partners in enhancing preparedness for effective response in the agriculture sector - in particular for the crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture subsectors. It includes specific case studies that focus on the Europe and Central Asia region as well as provides an extensive list of resources, tools and weblinks that will support governments, policymakers, researchers and development practitioners in designing, planning, implementing and monitoring preparedness interventions.
These guidelines are divided into two parts. The first part outlines the different disaster risk reduction components on which it is based and closely linked to, including disaster risk assessment, early-warning systems, anticipatory action, contingency planning, and institutional capacity development. The second part provides technical guidance and implementation checklists for enhanced preparedness across ten thematic areas and agricultural subsectors, such as animal health, plant pests, forest, livestock, food safety, One Health, among others.
While most of my readers aren't farmers, and won't feel the need to read the report in full, its takeaway message still applies to everyone on this planet. There are no guarantees that tomorrow will be like yesterday, and we ignore the threats around us at our own peril.
Next month is National Preparedness Month, and - as we've done every year for nearly 2 decades - we'll focus on individual, community, and national preparedness.
For those who'd like a headstart, a sampling of preparedness essays from last year:
Denk Vooruit: The Netherlands National Citizen Preparedness Drive
#NPM: DOE Resource Adequacy Report & Prepping For Power Outages
Frontiers: HPAI: Pandemic Preparedness for a Scenario of High Lethality with No Vaccines
