Read-out of the FAO Director-General’s meeting with Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland

Dublin - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today met Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland to discuss ways to ensure food security at global level and strengthen the collaboration with Ireland at large.

The Minister mentioned that Ireland is taking a leading role in agrifood systems transformation through its renewed agrifood strategy and Food Vision 2030, following a food systems approach.

The Director-General thanked the Minister for the kind invitation to visit Ireland and for hosting the World Potato Congress, noting that the potato takes a central place in the Irish diet and culture.

The Director-General mentioned that food is a basic human right and we must learn from history. He noted that there were important history lessons from Ireland, which were highlighted by his visit to the EPIC museum in Dublin, and he expressed his support for Ireland’s leading role in ensuring food security at global level.

The Minister recalled the strong relations with FAO, reflected in the FAO-Ireland partnership report, as well as Ireland’s strong engagement in the Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome in July 2021. The first FAO + Ireland Partnership Report was launched on 10 March 2021 with the participation of the Director-General and Minister McConalogue. Furthermore, in February 2021, FAO and Ireland signed the first Framework Agreement (2021-2024), focusing on gender equality, climate change mitigation, resilience building and food security and nutrition governance.

The Director-General mentioned FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative as a good way for further collaboration and for sharing the experiences of Ireland with developing countries, as well as the link with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, which seeks to support the 2030 Agenda, through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.

The Director-General further underlined the need for more investments in agrifood systems, and for making rural areas more attractive for youth.