It was established in 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition and standards of living by increasing agricultural productivity. Its secretariat is located in Rome, Italy.
Some of the important key programmes of FAO are Food Security Programmes, Codex Alimentarius, and International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) etc. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by FAO and WHO develops harmonized international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair trade practices in the food trade. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests.