Read-out of the FAO Director-General’s meeting with H.E. Kausea Natano, Prime Minister of Tuvalu
New York - The Director General QU Dongyu met today with H.E. Kausea Natano, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Prime Minister thanked the Director-General for FAO’s support to Tuvalu and noted that the country counted on this strong support to continue in the future. The Director-General reaffirmed FAO’s support, especially through technical assistance for the transformation of its agrifood systems to increase food security.
The Director-General and the Prime Minister discussed that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face multiple challenges in terms of food security in the context of the climate crisis. At the same time, the Director-General noted that SIDS play a critical role as hosts of a vital global public good: biodiversity.
The Director-General thanked the Prime Minister for Tuvalu’s support to the work of FAO, and highlighted some of the key reforms he has emplaced in the Organization since 2019 to ensure FAO is fit-for-purpose and equipped to deliver support to all its Members. Of particular relevance to Tuvalu, the Director-General cited FAO’s new Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs and highlighted the Organization’s systematic and structural commitment to do more and better for these countries in finding solutions to the specific challenges they face.
The Prime Minister informed the Director-General that agriculture in Tuvalu is being affected by the climate crisis, as rising sea levels are causing intrusion of salt water into fresh water supplies, thereby adversely affecting soil salinity and crop performance. He also informed the Director-General that agriculture was also being affected by plant pests and other threats. In this respect he requested capacity-building guidance from FAO in order for Tuvalu to diversify its agriculture sectors, promote healthy diets, and adapt to the food security challenges the country is facing.
The Director-General noted that FAO would look into various options to provide Tuvalu with additional support.
The Director-General went on to reference FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which prioritizes support to countries and territories where poverty and hunger are highest, national capacities are limited, or operational difficulties are greatest due to natural or man-made crises.