Director-General and Nabarro engage in wide-ranging talk about food systems

6 September 2019, Rome - FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu met today with David Nabarro, winner of the 2018 World Food Prize, to exchange views on the role of food and food systems in development.

 

“It’s clear he sees it in a very broad way,” Nabarro said after the meeting. 

 

While at heart food policies are about production, processing and access, “his way of thinking about food is in multiple and intersecting layers” including health, disease, nutrition, environment and even emotions and cultural identities, Nabarro said of the Director-General. 

 

Such a long-term and deep approach to food system questions should facilitate Mr. Qu’s ability to connect FAO’s work with other parts of the international system, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, he added. 

 

“Working together is going to be not only important … but so much fun,” said Nabarro, a long-time senior United Nations adviser who is currently Strategic Director at 4SD, which advises institutions on matters related to the sustainable development.