Following the successful publication of Bhutan’s first Food Balance Sheet (FBS) Report 2021–2024, developed by the National Statistics Bureau with technical support from the 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐅𝐀𝐎), a three-day technical workshop is currently underway to collect, review, and validate data for the 2025 Food Balance Sheet.
The 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 (𝐓𝐖𝐆) comprises experts from the National Statistics Bureau – NSB , Bhutan, Department of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan, Department of Livestock, Food Corporation of Bhutan Ltd., Department of Revenue and Customs, Thimphu Bhutan, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, and FAO.
The FBS 2021–2024 marked a significant milestone for Bhutan, providing the country’s first comprehensive assessment of food supply and utilization. Through a collaborative effort led by NSB and FAO, the TWG compiled and harmonized data on agricultural and livestock production, imports and exports, food stocks, food processing, animal feed, seed use, losses, and human consumption. The report generated critical evidence on per capita food availability, dietary energy supply, protein and fat availability, as well as key food security indicators such as the Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) and Import Dependency Ratio (IDR). The exercise also strengthened national capacity through intensive training, data validation sessions, and the application of internationally recognized FAO Food Balance Sheet methodologies.
Building on this foundation, the 2025 exercise is further strengthening Bhutan’s food statistics system through enhanced inter-agency collaboration, improved data validation processes, and more robust evidence gathering. During the workshop, participating agencies are jointly reviewing production, trade, stock, and utilization data to ensure consistency, completeness, and accuracy before compilation.
Once validated, the 2025 data will be balanced and compiled using FAO’s Shiny Food Balance Sheet Tool, with technical guidance from FAO experts. This will ensure that national food supply and utilization accounts are systematically reconciled and aligned with international standards, providing reliable information to support evidence-based policies, food security monitoring, nutrition planning, and Bhutan’s broader agrifood systems transformation