From the first session of the UNEP Governing Council, held in June 1973, the importance of environmental issues associated with industrial development was recognized and a programme of activities on environmental problems of specific industries was initiated by the Executive Director. One of the industries chosen for evaluation by the Governing Council was the agro-industrial sector. In view of the expertise already available through FA 0 and the desire to make maximum use of existing U.N. activities, the evaluations in relation to the agro-industrial sector were undertaken jointly with FAQ. The first of these evaluations was on the subject of residue utilization in agriculture and agro-industries, and a seminar on this subject was held in Rome in January 1977.