Read-out of the bilateral meeting between FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, and the Commissioner for Agriculture of the European Commission, Janusz Wojciechowski

27 July 2021, Rome -  The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, and Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture of the European Commission, today met and discussed cooperation between FAO and the European Union.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the partnership between FAO and the EU. The Director-General expressed his appreciation for the recent EU FAO Strategic Dialogue and the ongoing broad support to the Organization.

During the meeting, the Director-General and the Commissioner agreed to increase joint efforts to transform agri-food systems and work together on areas of common interest like small scale farming, sustainable and healthy soils, reduced water use and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. 

They also discussed the importance of small-scale farmers for sustainable agri-food systems, for example to produce diversified fresh and nutritious food. Both agreed that investing in sustainable rural transformation is key and that sustainability and productivity are complementary. In that respect the Director-General mentioned the new FAO Strategic Framework, highlighting the importance of a transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

The Director-General and the Commissioner also underlined the need for synergies between different policies and the importance of a long-term vision for rural development, especially for the youth. The support and consideration of the youth is crucial to convey the message of the need for sustainable agri-food systems.

The Director-General also underlined that scientifically based standards are crucial to satisfy the future demand for the food, in terms of quality, food diversity and quantity. In that respect the EU and FAO can lead the way towards reducing food waste and promoting a green lifestyle, with less environmental impact.

The Director-General thanked the Commissioner Wojciechowski for his continued support over the past years in many international events where they both participated.