Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Parallel form(s) of name

  • Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

Other form(s) of name

  • Food and Agriculture Organization
  • FAO

Identifiers for corporate bodies

Description area

Dates of existence

1945/10/16 -

History

"The foundation of FAO on the 16 October 1945 took place as result of three major steps. From 18 May to 3 June 1943, representatives of 44 governments met in Hot Springs, Virginia, USA, and committed themselves to founding a permanent organization in the fields of food and agriculture. The conference considered world problems of food and agriculture and declared "its belief that the goal of freedom from want of food, suitable and adequate for the health and strength of all people can be achieved". The concrete establishment of this organization was entrusted to the Interim Commission on Food and Agriculture, set up in Washington with representatives of each of the governments and authorities represented at the Hot Springs Conference. The major task of the Commission was to draw up a Constitution and to transmit this constitution to the 45 nations eligible for a membership in the permanent organization to be created.

"The formal foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO of the United Nations took place in the first session of the FAO Conference in Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, Canada, from 16 October to 1 November 1945. The Constitution drafted by the Interim Commission was signed by 34 nations and thus brought into force on 16 October 1945. At the end of the session, FAO consisted of 39 formal members, and the organization established its headquarters in Washington DC, USA. In 1951, the FAO headquarters were moved to Rome, Italy" (Guide to the Archives of International Organizations.)

Places

Legal status

Functions, occupations and activities

"The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. We help developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. Since our founding in 1945, we have focused special attention on developing rural areas, home to 70 percent of the world's poor and hungry people" (Guide to the Archives of International Organizations.)

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Internal structures/genealogy

General context

Relationships area

Access points area

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Occupations

Control area

Authority record identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Created by AWT 27/06/2012.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

FAO. (2011). Guide to the Archives of International Organizations. Accessed online 27/06/2012: http://www.unesco.org/archives/sio/Eng/presentation.php?idOrg=1011

Maintenance notes

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  • EAC

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