102 agricultural treasures: GIAHS Award Ceremony and Exhibition
Rome, FAO Headquarters, 31 October 2025
Videos
Session I: Award Ceremony
The opening session of the 2025 GIAHS Award Ceremony took place on 31 October at FAO headquarters. Moderated by Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, the session features a video message from FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, keynote speeches and video messages from distinguished guests, and remarks by FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi, who presented certificates to 28 newly designated GIAHS systems.
Watch the videoSession II · Policy Dialogue
The second session of the 2025 GIAHS Award Ceremony featured a high-level policy dialogue moderated by Jeremie Mbairamadji, GIAHS Senior Coordinator. Representatives from Spain, Brazil, China, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea and UN Tourism exchanged views on how agricultural heritage systems contribute to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and rural livelihoods, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and policy support to strengthen their resilience.
Watch the videoSession III: Talk Show
Moderated by Piedad Martín, Deputy Director of the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, this talk show gathered global custodians of GIAHS systems to share experiences on biodiversity, resilience and agricultural heritage. Farmers, fishers and community leaders from Ecuador, Tunisia, Republic of Korea, Brazil and Italy, together with the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Group, discussed local knowledge, culture and sustaining livelihoods. Check out the webpage.
Watch the videoBackground
The 2025 GIAHS Award Ceremony took place on 31 October at FAO headquarters in Rome, within the celebrations of FAO’s 80th Anniversary. The event celebrated 28 new agricultural heritage designations across 14 countries, bringing the total number of globally recognized heritage systems to 102.
Launched by FAO at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and formally endorsed as a FAO corporate programme in 2015, the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative identifies and safeguards remarkable agricultural systems where communities maintain an intricate relationship with their territories. Evolving and resilient, they are characterized by agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, invaluable cultures, and unique landscapes, sustainably managed by farmers, herders, fisherfolk, and forest people in ways that support livelihoods, adaptive management, and knowledge exchange.
28 new GIAHS designations in pictures
Photos
2025 GIAHS Award Ceremony: 28 new systems
30/10/2025
A day of celebration, dialogue and shared heritage. This album captures the ceremony and full event programme, where custodians, partners and communities...
Contact
Media resources
28 new agricultural heritage systems in 14 countries (2023–2025)
With their first designations, Andorra, Austria, Indonesia, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tajikistan become part of the worldwide network of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.
Andorra
Austria
- Carp pond farming in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria
- Traditional Hay milk Farming in the Austrian Alpine Arc, Austria
Brazil
China
- Deqing Freshwater Pearl Mussels Composite Fishery System in Zhejiang Province, China
- Fuding White Tea Culture System in Fujian Province , China
- Gaolan Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard System in Gansu Province, China
- Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Eco-Planting System in Hebei Province, China
- Tongling White Ginger Plantation System in Anhui Province, China
- Xianju Ancient Chinese Waxberry Composite System in Zhejiang Province, China
Indonesia
Islamic Republic of Iran
Japan
- Fallen Leaves Compost Agroforestry System in Musashino Upland, in the peri-urban Area of Tokyo
- Integrated Farming System for Harmonizing People and Cattle in the Mikata District, Japan
- Sustainable Water Management and Agricultural,Forestry, and Livestock System Readapted from Tatara Ironmaking in the Okuizumo Area , Japan
- The Stone Terraced Mikan Orchard Systemof Arida-Shimotsu Region, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
Republic of Korea
Sao Tome and Principe
Spain
Videos
Video
From ash to harvest: Lanzarote’s journey of living heritage, Spain
21/05/2025
On the arid island of Lanzarote, farmers have developed a unique system using volcanic lapilli and sea sand to trap moisture and protect the soil. Grapes,...
Video
Discover Almosi Valley in Tajikistan
08/07/2025
This integrated agropastoral system in Tajikistan’s Almosi Valley combines seasonal transhumance of sheep with the cultivation of grapes, cereals, orchards,...
Video
Traditional Jukbangryeom Fishery System in Jijok Straits, Republic of Korea
08/07/2025
The Jukbangryeom system provides reliable seasonal income and food security for coastal communities through the selective harvesting of anchovy and...
Video
Fuding White Tea Culture System , China
17/05/2025
In Fuding, China, centuries-old white tea cultivation blends ecological wisdom and craftsmanship. Centered on the Lüxueya mother tree and natural withering...
Learn more about the 28 new GIAHS designations
New Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems in Italy and Japan push global total of designated sites past 100
26/08/2025
Three new GIAHS designations from FAO – one in Italy and two in Japan – showcase agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.
Sites in the Republic of Korea, Portugal and Tajikistan recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
08/07/2025
Six new sites recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
21/05/2025
Three new sites recognized as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)
20/09/2024
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: Iran and Japan get additional sites
06/07/2023
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: Andorra and Austria earn their first, while Asian countries get six new designations
10/11/2023
A pasture system in Andorra, hay milk in Austria, areas growing chestnuts, white ginger and waxberries in China, flood-spreading gardens and a walnut cultivating region in Iran and an all-female fishery in the Republic of Korea have become the latest additions to