FAO Director-General addresses kickoff meeting of The Hub’s Scientific Advisory Committee
“I strongly believe science and innovation are keys to addressing our agrifood systems challenges”, said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu during the kickoff meeting of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).
The Committee will help accelerate the implementation of national pathways to transform agrifood systems by harnessing evidence and expertise from across the scientific community.
“Science and innovation are game changers, and the Scientific Advisory Committee will be positioned to assist the change – to make a tangible impact on the ground”, Qu explained at the virtual gathering.
The SAC, officially launched last October at the World Food Forum, comprises 33 eminent scientists from around the world, dedicated to addressing systemic challenges that exist in transformation pathways through credible, evidence-based and science-driven solutions.
Its members are experts in natural, social, economic and applied sciences, as well as sustainability science through an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach.
“By harnessing evidence and expertise from across the scientific community, you can help shift humanity towards healthier, more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems”, the FAO Director-General told the Committee.
On the path to the Stocktaking Moment
For Qu, the establishment of the SAC is very timely, as it comes just a few months before the UN Food Summit Stocktaking moment, which will take place in Rome at FAO headquarters from 24-26 July this year.
The Stocktaking Moment will be the first global follow-up to the Summit and will focus on progress made on Members’ commitments to accelerate and deepen the transformative power of agrifood systems.
“The Scientific Advisory Committee can significantly contribute to this exercise, in particular by focusing on how to maximize impact in the lives of small-scale producers, women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples”, the FAO Director-General underscored, adding that while countries need support to implement their agrifood transformations, the Committee needs to provide the scientific advice, guidance and proven solutions needed.
About The Hub
One year ago, the United Nations established the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (The Hub), which is hosted by FAO on behalf of the UN System and supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Health Organization(WHO), the World Food Program (WFP), the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO).
The Hub’s primary role is to support countries to develop further and implement their national agrifood systems transformation pathways.
“We are pleased to be able to provide leadership for the follow-up work to support countries in implementing the Summit outcomes”, Qu highlighted.