FAO Director-General: World faces historic task to turn the tide on ending hunger, poverty and achieving the other SDGs

A holistic, coordinated approach is urgently needed to transform agri-food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This was the call made by the QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to world leaders participating in the opening today (26 July 2021) of the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit. 

A holistic, coordinated approach is urgently needed to transform agri-food systems and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. This was the call made by the QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to world leaders participating in the opening today (26 July 2021) of the Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit. 

Qu noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the situation, worsening food insecurity, intensifying inequalities and jeopardizing progress made in the past decades. 

SOUNDBITE (English) Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, “We are at a critical moment in time. Before the pandemic, we already knew that we were off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our agri-food systems are not delivering properly, and in many parts of the world these systems were not efficient, inclusive, and sustainable. The pandemic aggravated the situation. The historical task we are facing is clear: defining holistic, coordinated approaches to transform our agri-food systems.” 

According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report (SOFI) issued this month by FAO and its partners, around a tenth of the global population - up to 811 million people - were undernourished last year. The number suggests it will take a tremendous effort for the world to honour its pledge to end hunger by 2030.  

Speaking to participants at the Pre-Summit opening ceremony, the FAO Director-General stressed how at this “critical moment in time” the world faces “the historic task” to transform our agri-food systems and put back on track the achievement of the SDGs.

SOUNDBITE (English) Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, “To achieve this ambitious transformation we need to change policies, mind-sets, and business models. At FAO, we have implemented a series of fundamental transformative actions, over the past two years, to drive this change, for an innovative, efficient, and inclusive Organization that is fit for purpose. Our new Strategic Framework for the next decade focuses on the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.”

The Pre-Summit saw the participation of dozens of heads of state and government, ministers and other high-level representatives, some present in person while others connected by video.

Speakers included UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi - the UN and the Government of Italy are the Pre-Summit co-hosts – President of Rwanda and Chair of the African Union Development Agency Paul Kagame and, representing Pope Francis, Archbishop Paul Gallagher the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.

The day’s proceedings had begun earlier with an address by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed. Later the FAO Director-General participated in a panel discussion, What It Will Take to Rise to Our Ambition for 2030 together with the heads of the other Rome-based UN agencies, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Gilbert Houngbo, and the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley. They were joined by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Inger Andersen, while the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the 2021 Food Systems, Agnes Kalibata, also made remarks.

In his opening ceremony address, the FAO Director-General outlined how under his leadership the Organization has become a more efficient, inclusive and fit for purpose and is strategically poised to drive many of the changes needed to transform agri-food systems.

FAO’s new Strategic Framework for the next decade, endorsed last month by the FAO Conference focuses on the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, and hinges the Four Betters - better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life - to leave no one behind.

In addition, FAO’s flagship match-making Hand-in-Hand Initiative aims to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development to eradicate poverty and end hunger.

The Director-General also cited the Food Coalition an initiative conceived in partnership with the Government of Italy, and FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Program which complement the UN agency’s holistic approach.

SOUNDBITE (English) Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, “FAO continues to build and strengthen joint efforts across sectors, regions and communities with all stakeholders. Together, in solidarity, effectiveness, and determination, we invite all of you to join us in this historical defying noble mission.”

In partnership with the Government of Italy, Pre-Summit of the UN Food Systems Summit takes place in Rome from 26–28 July 2021. 

Under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the Pre-Summit is a “People’s Summit” that brings together youth, farmers, indigenous peoples, civil society, researchers, private sector, policy leaders and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, nutrition and finance, among other participants. 

The event aims to deliver the latest evidence-based and scientific approaches to food systems transformation from around the world, launch a set of new commitments through coalitions of action and mobilize new financing and partnerships. All of this will be achieved by fostering diverse engagement from all quarters to uncover the broadest range of solutions and have maximum impact, together.

File – Rome, Italy - SOURCE: FAO

1. Wide shot of FAO headquarters

2. FAO sign with flags on the background

Rome, Italy 26 July 2021 - SOURCE: RAI / UN POOL

3. Wide shot of a sign reading “Pre-Summit”

Rome, Italy 26 July 2021 - SOURCE: FAO

4. FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu, welcoming Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations

5. FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu, welcoming Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio

6. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations (left), Luigi Di Maio, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (center), FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu (right), welcoming Mario Draghi, Italy’s Prime Minister 

Rome, Italy 26 July 2021 - SOURCE: RAI / UN POOL

7. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations and Mario Draghi, Italy’s Prime Minister walking

8. Wide shot of FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu walking onstage

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, “We are at a critical moment in time. Before the pandemic, we already knew that we were off track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our agri-food systems are not delivering properly, and in many parts of the world these systems were not efficient, inclusive, and sustainable. The pandemic aggravated the situation. The historical task we are facing is clear: defining holistic, coordinated approaches to transform our agri-food systems.

10. Wide shot of Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio (left), Mario Draghi, Italy’s Prime Minister (center), Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations (right)

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, “To achieve this ambitious transformation we need to change policies, mind-sets, and business models. At FAO, we have implemented a series of fundamental transformative actions, over the past two years, to drive this change, for an innovative, efficient, and inclusive Organization that is fit for purpose. Our new Strategic Framework for the next decade focuses on the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.”

12. Close up shot of Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Qu Dongyu, FAO Director General, “FAO continues to build and strengthen joint efforts across sectors, regions and communities with all stakeholders. Together, in solidarity, effectiveness, and determination, we invite all of you to join us in this historical defying noble mission.”

14. Wide shot of Mario Draghi, Italy’s Prime Minister, walking onstage

15. Close up of Mario Draghi, Italy’s Prime Minister, speaking

16. Top shot of Mario Draghi, Italy’s Prime Minister, speaking

17. Close up of Mons. Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, speaking

18. Wide of pre-summit, tilt down to Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations speaking

19. Close up of Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations speaking

20. Zoom in shot with FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu speaking

21. Close up of FAO Director General, Qu Dongyu speaking

22. Photographer taking a picture

23. Zoom in of the meeting hall with people in presence and others on the videowall assisting online

24. Wide shot of plenary hall with Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) speaking onscreen