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FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium

FAO’s Chief Economist talks food security with key Brussels partners

03/02/2023

Upon invitation of the Council of the European Union under the Swedish Presidency and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero visited Brussels and updated FAO partners on the latest developments pertaining to food security, food prices and the implications of the war in Ukraine on global food security.

During his mission, Torero presented at the Council Working Party on International Cooperation and Development (CODEV) an overview of the current global food security situation, giving highlights of FAO’s role in coping with the current crisis. His presentation was followed by an intervention from David Kaatrup, WFP Programme Director, Humanitarian and Development Division. The sustainable use and management of fertilizers and the need for transition to efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems were among the themes of the exchange with the delegates from the 27 EU Member States and the European Commission that joined the discussion.

“The efficient use is the main issue on the fertilizers debate. We need to understand that each crop and each soil require a different approach. Today 50% of fertilizers are wasted at a global level. We should enhance the evidence and the scientific perspective”, said Torero to the Council delegates.

The following day, FAO Chief Economist was the keynote presenter at the Natural Resource Section of the EESC. His intervention was preceded by a meeting with Natural Resources Section (NAT) President Peter Schmidt who stressed the crucial role of FAO in the current food-related challenges. 

“The more evidence we bring, the greatest chances we have to transform agrifood systems. Availability of food and nutrition quality and healthy diets should be more interlinked. Trade is essential for this”,  said Torero to the Members of EESC.

During his visit to Brussels, Torero also met with Ambassador Torbjörn Haak, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the EU and its Representative at Coreper I, with a delegation from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development  (DG AGRI) headed by its Director GeneralWolfgang Burtscher, and with Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary General for Climate and Environment of the Organization for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States.