New York – Director-General QU Dongyu met today with the Honourable E. Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Antigua and Barbuda on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Director-General thanked the Minister for Antigua and Barbuda’s support to the work of FAO. He also noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face multiple challenges in terms of food security in the context of the climate crisis, while at the same time playing a critical roles as hosts of a vital global public good: biodiversity.
The Director-General 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 Antigua and Barbuda, he 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 Minister expressed his appreciation to the Director-General for his commitment to SIDS, and noted that Antigua and Barbuda wants to build stronger synergies with FAO. He stated that climate change is an ‘existential threat’ for many SIDS, and therefore counts on FAO support and technical expertise in order to address the food security challenges posed by the climate crisis. The Minister also expressed appreciation to the Director-General for FAO’s commitment to SIDS, which will provide tangible, meaningful support to SIDS.
For his part the Director-General stressed that it is important for SIDS to identify and adopt digital solutions that support agrifood systems transformation, and noted that innovation and new technologies can help produce more and better, locally.
The Minister agreed that localized solutions are key, and stressed that sustainability is fundamental to ensuring long-lasting impacts. He also went on to note the importance of water storage and catchment in his country given the context of water scarcity, and emphasized that FAO’s technical support and assistance in this area are essential to overcome the challenges faced.
The Director-General also informed the Minister that the World Food Forum, the Science and Innovation Forum, and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum will all take place in Rome, Italy, during the week of 17-21 October, and expressed his hope that Antigua and Barbuda could participate.
Finally, the Director-General also provided a brief overview of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the three new thematic strategies recently endorsed by Members on Climate Change, on Science and Innovation, and on Private Sector Engagement.
