Argentina and FAO hail new chapter in their partnership

1 February 2020, Rome - In their meeting today, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, focused on ways to strengthen cooperation to tackle poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition.

President Fernández noted how some 40 percent of Argentina’s population is facing poverty and he asked for FAO’s support in the implementation of the National Plan Against Hunger, which aims to urgently guarantee food security and healthy diets for all, including through direct support to the most vulnerable segments of the country’s population.

In this context, the FAO Director-General stressed the importance of putting in place enabling policies, strong implementation mechanisms and capacity development.

He and President Fernández agreed that a FAO technical team will organize a meeting with the Ministry of Social Development of Argentina, which is in charge of the National Plan Against Hunger, to explore ways to work closely together.

The FAO Director-General also underscored what he described as two important points. Firstly, the need to develop a broad strategy that focuses on different agricultural sectors, such as aquaculture and forestry, taking into account the needs of smallholders. Secondly, for Argentina to build partnerships, based on the concept of FAO’s new Hand-in-Hand Initiative, involving the private sector and aimed at supporting vulnerable communities. 

The parties also agreed on the importance of innovation and digitalization to boost the agricultural sectors.