The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provides a large collection of free online learning opportunities through the FAO elearning Academy, covering food security, agriculture, nutrition, climate action, natural-resource management, food safety, trade and other areas connected to sustainable development.
The platform is more than a collection of introductory courses. FAO’s learning catalogue includes technical training designed around specific professional competencies, with courses available in multiple languages. The Academy also provides certification through final assessments and digital badges for qualifying courses.
For professionals interested in agriculture, food systems, climate change, nutrition, international development, environmental management and rural development, the FAO elearning Academy can therefore be a particularly useful source of structured professional development.
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FAO Free Online Courses at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |
| Platform | FAO elearning Academy |
| Cost | Free |
| Format | Online learning |
| Languages | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish |
| Main areas | Food security, agriculture, nutrition, climate, natural resources, trade and development |
| Certification | Available for qualifying courses |
| Digital badges | Available for certified learning activities |
| Assessment | Final evaluation commonly required for certification |
| Certification threshold | 75% or higher for the Academy’s certification assessment |
| Learning style | Includes self-paced courses and other learning formats |
| Audience | Depends on the individual course |
The Academy’s current search catalogue describes its offering as a wide variety of free, multilingual courses covering food and nutrition security, social and economic development and sustainable management of natural resources.
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What Is the FAO elearning Academy?
The FAO elearning Academy is the Food and Agriculture Organization’s online learning platform.
Its purpose is to make specialized knowledge and professional learning accessible to people around the world.
The Academy provides:
- Self-paced e-learning courses
- Massive Open Online Courses
- Technical webinars
- Mobile learning solutions
- Other learning initiatives and events
The platform is available in six languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, giving it broader international reach than many conventional professional-learning platforms.
Are FAO Online Courses Really Free?
Yes. The FAO Academy’s course search describes its courses as free and multilingual.
FAO has also described the Academy’s learning as a global public good intended to support access to education and professional competencies.
This is an important advantage for students and professionals who cannot afford expensive specialist training.
However, learners should distinguish between the Academy’s online learning activities and other FAO events or external programmes. The individual course page remains the best place to confirm the exact learning and certification arrangements.
Do FAO Courses Offer Certificates?
Yes, certification is available for qualifying FAO elearning Academy courses.
FAO explains that courses use knowledge assessments and final evaluations. For Academy courses with certification, learners generally need to complete the course and pass the final scenario-based performance evaluation with a score of 75% or higher. The Academy then provides digital certification, including digital badges that verify acquired competencies.
This is an important distinction from platforms where simply watching videos produces a completion certificate.
With FAO’s certified courses, the credential is connected to an assessment of learning.
How FAO Digital Badges Work
Digital badges are designed to provide a verifiable representation of learning achievements.
FAO explains that its digital badges can be added to places such as:
- LinkedIn profiles
- Email signatures
- Personal websites
- Professional profiles
The badges represent specific learning outcomes and competencies rather than simply indicating that someone registered for a course.
This can make the credential more useful when building an online professional profile.
What Score Do You Need to Get FAO Certification?
For the certified courses reviewed by Opportunities Feed, the final assessment requires a minimum score of 75%.
FAO’s Academy guidance states that certification is granted after passing the final scenario-based performance evaluation with at least 75%.
Individual course pages confirm this requirement. For example, FAO’s Managing climate risks through social protection, Climate-smart soil and land management and Introduction to Codex courses state that learners receive their digital badge after completing the course and achieving at least 75% in the final exam.
FAO Free Courses Available in 2026
The Academy catalogue is actively updated rather than being a static list of old courses.
The current catalogue includes courses added in 2026, including:
- Understanding family farming
- The role of livestock in circular bioeconomy systems
- Sea container inspections: minimizing visible pest risks
- Food markets and healthy diets in low- and middle-income countries
- Food market governance: Public sector and institutional dynamics
- Strengthening wholesale markets in low- and middle-income countries
- Strengthening local and traditional markets in low- and middle-income countries
- Agrifood systems solutions for halting deforestation
- E-learning curriculum: Forest monitoring for climate action
- GRIN-Global Community Edition and Genesys
- Multidimensional solutions to reduce food loss and waste in fish value chains
- Farmers markets: An introduction
These listings demonstrate that the Academy is continually adding learning around emerging and specialized issues rather than only offering traditional agriculture courses.
FAO Courses for Agriculture Professionals
Agriculture remains one of the Academy’s core areas.
The available learning covers subjects connected to:
- Agricultural production
- Farmer organizations
- Plant health
- Soil management
- Agroecology
- Sustainable agriculture
- Agricultural markets
- Food systems
- Rural development
For agriculture students and professionals, this creates an opportunity to build specialization beyond a conventional university qualification.
Climate and Environmental Courses
FAO also provides learning at the intersection of agriculture, climate and natural-resource management.
One example is Climate-smart soil and land management.
The course covers sustainable soil and land-management practices, including:
- Preventing and mitigating degradation
- Soil erosion control
- Soil organic matter
- Water-use improvement
- Strategies for climate-smart agriculture
- Creating an enabling environment for sustainable soil management
The course consists of four lessons and offers certification after passing the final evaluation with at least 75%.
This makes it potentially useful for professionals interested in climate-smart agriculture, environmental management and sustainable land use.
Managing Climate Risks Through Social Protection
Another example demonstrates how FAO training extends beyond agriculture in the narrow sense.
The course Managing climate risks through social protection connects climate-risk management with social protection.
The course offers certification, with a digital badge available after completing the course and passing the final examination with a minimum score of 75%.
This type of training could be particularly relevant to people working at the intersection of:
- Climate adaptation
- Social protection
- Poverty reduction
- Development policy
- Humanitarian programming
Food Security and Nutrition Courses
FAO’s learning catalogue also covers food and nutrition security.
For example, Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods: Basic Concepts covers:
- Food and nutrition concepts
- Nutrient requirements
- Balanced diets
- Forms of malnutrition
- Causes of malnutrition
- Food security
- Livelihoods
The course also offers digital certification following a final examination with a 75% pass requirement.
This can be useful for learners pursuing careers in:
- Nutrition
- Public health
- Food security
- Humanitarian assistance
- Development
- Community programmes
Food Trade and Policy Courses
FAO’s learning catalogue is also relevant to professionals interested in international trade and food policy.
Introduction to Trade, Food Security and Nutrition
This course examines the relationship between trade, food security and nutrition.
It consists of two lessons covering:
- Defining and measuring trade, food security and nutrition
- The impacts of trade, food security and nutrition
The course offers certification following a final assessment with the 75% threshold.
Governance of Trade, Food Security and Nutrition
This course explores:
- The multilateral trading system
- Policy space
- Governance of trade
- Food security
- Nutrition
- Policy coherence
It consists of three lessons and also offers digital certification.
These courses could be particularly valuable for people interested in international development, agricultural economics, public policy and trade.
Plant Health and Agricultural Trade
FAO also offers technical training for people involved in plant health and agricultural exports.
One example is the Phytosanitary Export Certification System course.
It is designed for stakeholders including:
- Plant and plant-product producers
- Exporters
- Exporting firms and syndicates
- Export inspectors
- Export supervisors
The course explains activities associated with phytosanitary export certification and forms part of FAO’s IPPC Plant Health Campus.
The course has role-specific certification assessments, making it a useful example of how FAO training can be tied to specific professional responsibilities.
FAO Courses for Food Safety Professionals
FAO also provides learning around international food standards and the Codex Alimentarius system.
For example, the Introduction to Codex course offers certification following the final assessment.
The related Engaging in Codex course provides five lessons covering topics including:
- Making Codex work at national level
- National Codex programmes
- Codex documentation
- Preparing for Codex meetings
- Participating effectively in Codex meetings
The course also offers digital certification following the final examination.
These courses may be particularly useful for professionals working in food safety, agricultural regulation, international trade and government food-control systems.
FAO Courses for Fisheries Professionals
The Academy also includes specialized fisheries learning.
For example, Fish loss assessment methods is listed as a certified course.
This highlights another important point for prospective learners: FAO training is not limited to crop production.
The Academy extends into fisheries, food loss, food systems and natural-resource management.
FAO Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture Learning
The Academy also provides training around agroecology and sustainable production systems.
Its certification system has been used for courses such as Agroecology for Africa, demonstrating the relevance of the platform to sustainable agriculture and African food systems.
This can be particularly relevant to professionals working in:
- Agricultural extension
- Rural development
- Food systems
- Environmental sustainability
- Climate adaptation
- Farmer support programmes
Who Should Take FAO Free Online Courses?
University Students
Students studying agriculture, environmental science, development studies, economics, nutrition, food science or related subjects can use FAO courses to supplement academic learning.
Recent Graduates
Graduates can use specialized courses to develop a clearer professional focus while searching for internships and entry-level positions.
Agricultural Professionals
Farmers, extension professionals, agronomists and agricultural programme staff can choose technical courses relevant to their work.
NGO and Development Professionals
FAO’s learning can complement careers in:
- Food security
- Rural development
- Humanitarian assistance
- Climate adaptation
- Nutrition
- Livelihoods
Government Officials
Courses related to trade, food safety, agricultural policy, food security and natural-resource management can be relevant to public-sector professionals.
Researchers
Researchers can use the Academy to strengthen their understanding of applied agricultural and development issues.
How to Choose the Right FAO Course
Don’t start by asking:
“Which FAO course gives me a certificate?”
Instead ask:
“Which FAO competency is relevant to the career I want?”
This simple change can significantly improve the value of the learning.
If you want a climate career
Consider subjects such as:
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Soil and land management
- Climate-risk management
- Drought resilience
- Sustainable natural resources
If you want a food-security career
Consider:
- Nutrition
- Food security
- Livelihoods
- Food systems
- Food loss and waste
If you want an agricultural career
Consider:
- Farmer field schools
- Plant health
- Agricultural markets
- Sustainable agriculture
- Agroecology
If you want a food-policy career
Consider:
- Codex
- Food safety
- Trade
- Food-security policy
- Nutrition
How to Register for FAO Free Courses
The process is straightforward.
Step 1 — Visit the Academy
Step 2 — Search the course catalogue
The Academy provides a course-search function where you can explore available learning opportunities.
Step 3 — Select a course
Read the course description carefully.
Pay attention to:
- Target audience
- Learning objectives
- Course structure
- Duration
- Certification availability
- Assessment requirements
Step 4 — Register
Users can create an account through the Academy.
Step 5 — Complete the learning
Work through the lessons and any required activities.
Step 6 — Take the final assessment
For certified courses, complete the relevant final evaluation.
Step 7 — Earn your credential
Where certification is available, achieve the required score and obtain the relevant certificate or digital badge.
How Long Do FAO Courses Take?
There is no single duration for FAO online courses.
The Academy includes very short courses as well as longer learning programmes.
For example, the current catalogue includes courses ranging from approximately 30 minutes to several hours, while some curricula and learning series are considerably more extensive.
This makes the platform suitable for both:
- Quick professional development
- More substantial specialization
A useful strategy is to begin with shorter courses and then progress into more specialized learning.
Can You Study FAO Courses on a Phone?
The Academy supports multiple learning approaches, including mobile learning solutions.
Course compatibility can vary, so learners should check the technical requirements of the specific course.
For example, FAO course pages indicate compatibility with common modern browsers including Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox.
Are FAO Courses Available in Different Languages?
Yes.
The Academy provides access to learning in:
- English
- Arabic
- Chinese
- French
- Russian
- Spanish
This multilingual approach can be particularly useful for professionals working across different regions.
Choose a language on the FAO Academy
Are FAO Courses Recognized?
The safest way to describe an FAO digital badge or certificate is as official FAO elearning Academy certification for the relevant course, rather than claiming that it is equivalent to a university qualification.
The credential demonstrates completion and, for certified courses, successful performance against the relevant assessment.
The Academy’s digital badge system is specifically designed to verify learning outcomes and competencies.
Can FAO Certificates Help With Jobs?
They can strengthen a professional development profile, but they should not be treated as substitutes for formal qualifications or work experience.
Their greatest value comes when they support a coherent career direction.
For example:
Agriculture degree + FAO agroecology training + agricultural internship
is a stronger professional story than:
Agriculture degree + 15 unrelated online certificates.
Similarly:
Development studies + food-security training + NGO experience
can demonstrate a more focused career trajectory.
How to Add an FAO Certificate to Your CV
Use the exact course title.
For example:
Climate-smart soil and land management
FAO elearning Academy — Digital Certification
Or:
Introduction to Trade, Food Security and Nutrition
FAO elearning Academy — Certified Course
If you earned a digital badge, you can also include the badge or its verification link in your LinkedIn profile.
Do not describe yourself as “FAO certified” in a broad sense if you only completed one specific course. State the actual course and credential.
A Better FAO Learning Strategy
Rather than collecting certificates randomly, build a career learning pathway.
Example 1 — Climate and Agriculture
- Climate-smart soil and land management
- Climate-risk management
- Sustainable agriculture
- Food systems
Example 2 — Food Security
- Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods
- Food markets
- Food loss and waste
- Food-system policy
Example 3 — International Agricultural Trade
- Introduction to Codex
- Engaging in Codex
- Phytosanitary certification
- Trade, food security and nutrition
Example 4 — Sustainable Development
- Agroecology
- Sustainable natural-resource management
- Climate-smart agriculture
- Food security
This gives your professional development a clear narrative.
FAO Courses vs Generic Online Courses
The major advantage of FAO’s Academy is specialization.
A generic online course might teach broad concepts in agriculture or sustainability.
FAO courses can instead focus on specific international-development problems such as:
- Phytosanitary certification
- Codex systems
- Food-security measurement
- Climate-smart land management
- Food-market governance
- Farmer field schools
- Food loss
- Agricultural trade
This makes the Academy particularly relevant to people pursuing careers in the UN system, NGOs, governments, agricultural institutions and international development organizations.
Important Things Applicants Should Know
Not every course has identical requirements
Check the individual course page before starting.
Certification requires assessment
For certified courses, simply completing the lessons is not necessarily enough. FAO’s certification framework uses final evaluations, commonly with a 75% pass requirement.
Webinars are different from certified courses
FAO offers technical webinars as well as e-learning courses. The Academy’s materials distinguish these learning formats, and webinar participation should not automatically be assumed to produce the same certification as an e-learning course.
A certificate is not a job qualification by itself
Use it as evidence of professional development alongside your education and experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are FAO online courses free?
Yes. The FAO elearning Academy describes its course catalogue as offering free multilingual courses.
Are FAO courses available to people outside FAO?
The Academy is designed as an international learning platform, and its courses are made available online. Individual course audiences can differ, so check each course’s requirements.
Do FAO courses provide certificates?
Many certified courses provide FAO digital certification after the required final assessment is passed.
What score is required for FAO certification?
The Academy’s certification guidance specifies a 75% or higher score on the final scenario-based performance evaluation for certification.
Does FAO provide digital badges?
Yes. FAO uses a digital-badge system to verify learning outcomes and competencies.
Are FAO courses available in English?
Yes. English is one of the six languages supported by the Academy.
Can students take FAO courses?
Students can explore the Academy’s catalogue and choose courses relevant to their studies and career objectives, subject to individual course requirements.
Are FAO courses useful for NGO jobs?
They can be particularly relevant for careers involving agriculture, food security, nutrition, climate, rural development, humanitarian work and natural-resource management.
Can I add FAO courses to LinkedIn?
Yes. FAO’s digital badges are designed to be shareable on professional profiles including LinkedIn.
Will an FAO certificate guarantee me a job?
No. It demonstrates learning or competency for the relevant course but does not guarantee employment.
Opportunities Feed Verdict
FAO’s elearning Academy is one of the strongest free online learning resources for people interested in agriculture, food security, nutrition, climate action and international development.
What makes it particularly valuable is the combination of free access, specialized technical content, multilingual learning and competency-based certification.
The certification system is also more meaningful than a simple attendance certificate for qualifying courses because learners must complete the relevant assessment and, under the Academy’s certification framework, achieve at least 75% in the final evaluation.
For students and early-career professionals, the best strategy is not to collect as many FAO certificates as possible. Instead, choose two or three courses that reinforce a specific career direction.
For example, someone targeting climate and agriculture could combine soil and land management with climate-risk learning, while someone interested in international food policy could build knowledge around Codex, trade and food security.
That approach transforms free online training from a collection of certificates into a coherent professional development portfolio.
Official FAO Resources
FAO Academy Certification Information
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