Read-out of the FAO Director-General’s meeting with US Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas J. Vilsack

Stuttgart - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, and Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), met and discussed longstanding cooperation between FAO and the United States of America (USA).

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the partnership between FAO and the USA, with the Director-General expressing his appreciation for the USA’s ongoing support to the Organization.  Secretary Vilsack extended his appreciation to the Director-General for his energy and commitment in leading FAO.

The Director-General and the Secretary discussed the importance of strengthening mutual cooperation on the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) in order to provide accurate information and data globally, including on the impacts of the war in Ukraine on global food security.

The Secretary discussed the US Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities and noted the opportunity for synergies with FAO’s Global Action on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) programme.  He also reiterated the importance of science and innovation and private sector engagement, and the need for FAO to continue upscaling its work on these priorities worldwide. 

The Director-General touched upon matters relating to water scarcity, noting the US can play a leading role to share innovation, technologies, tools and investment to tackle this challenge in many parts of the world.  He also stressed the importance of continuing US engagement and leadership to support the implementation of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 and its Programme Priority Areas (PPAs), for achieving global food security and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.