Agrifood for tomorrow: FAO Brussels presents priorities at Council Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO)

FAO Brussels Director Raschad Al-Khafaji presented FAO’s latest initiatives and FAO Brussels work and 2024 priorities at the Council Working Party on International Food and Agricultural Questions (AGRIFAO), chaired this semester by Belgium. 

Under the Agrifood for Tomorrow concept, the Office will center its work on themes such as innovation, Blue Transformation and agrifood systems transformation and food security, all of which are areas of focus also for the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

Other joint priorities that are at the top of the Presidency's programme for the semester and for FAO, in general, include:  healthy diets, as well as animal and plant health.  

After a brief recap of the numerous interactions jointly organized with the outgoing Spanish Presidency, Al-Khafaji informed the AGRIFAO delegates on the collaboration plan FAO Brussels has developed with the Belgian Presidency. A cooperation that includes among others several co-organized official events on healthy diets, innovation, as well as behavioral science in agrifood systems.  

During his intervention, the FAO Brussels Director, also alluded to the FAO Regional Conferences taking place around the world in the coming months. He then highlighted the agenda items for the upcoming Regional Conference for Europe (ERC), scheduled to take place in Chisinau, Moldova, from May 14 to 17. 

Linked to ERC, the AGRIFAO Working Party will also welcome two additional presentations in the coming months and during the Belgian Presidency of the Council: the first, from the FAO Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, Thanawat Tiensin and the second, from the FAO Director of Innovation, Vincent Martin.