At the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June, 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and “Blue Transformation”. Which of the following combinations about the “Four Betters” proposed by FAO for “Blue Transformation” is correct ?
- (a) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better ocean
- (b) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Better coral reefs, better nutrition, better environment and better life
- (d) Better estuaries, better nutrition, better environment and better mangrove vegetation
Why the answer is (b)
• FAO's Strategic Framework 2022–31 is built on the 'Four Betters': better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
• 'Blue Transformation' is FAO's vision for aquatic food systems — expanding sustainable aquaculture, managing fisheries effectively and upgrading value chains — and it applies these same four aspirations to fisheries and aquaculture.
• At the third UN Ocean Conference (Nice, June 2025) FAO presented Blue Transformation as its contribution to SDG 14 and resilient coastal livelihoods.
• Options (a), (c) and (d) substitute 'ocean', 'coral reefs', 'estuaries' or 'mangrove vegetation' for the actual pillars; these are not among the Four Betters.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better ocean
- 'Better ocean' is not one of the Four Betters; the fourth is 'better life'.
- (c) Better coral reefs, better nutrition, better environment and better life
- 'Better coral reefs' is not a FAO pillar; the first is 'better production'.
- (d) Better estuaries, better nutrition, better environment and better mangrove vegetation
- 'Better estuaries' and 'better mangrove vegetation' are not FAO pillars.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026, held on 24 May 2026. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.