On 21 May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the prestigious Agricola Medal for 2026 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. The award was presented by Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director General of the FAO, in a ceremony held in the historic Plenary Hall of the FAO headquarters. The Agricola Medal is the highest honour awarded by the FAO and is conferred upon national leaders who have made outstanding contributions to global food security, the eradication of hunger, poverty reduction, and the promotion of sustainable agriculture and rural development. The honour was conferred in recognition of the Prime Minister's exceptional leadership in addressing food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development both within India and at the global level. Significantly, this visit marked the first by an Indian Head of Government to the FAO headquarters in nearly three decades. Accepting the award, the Prime Minister dedicated the honour to India's farmers and the country's agricultural scientific community, who work tirelessly to ensure food security and nutrition for the people of India and around the world. He described the medal as a tribute to India's commitment to human welfare. The recognition highlights India's transformation into a leading producer of foodgrains, milk, pulses, and horticultural crops, and underlines the country's growing role in global agricultural cooperation. The visit also strengthened India's engagement with the FAO, a key United Nations specialised agency working to defeat hunger and improve nutrition worldwide.