Read-out of the meeting between FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu, and the US Secretary of Agriculture, the Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack
Today, 27 May 2021, the FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu, and Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), met virtually 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 steadfast and consistent support to the Organization. He also congratulated the Secretary for his appointment as US Secretary of Agriculture for the second time.
For his part, Secretary Vilsack extended his appreciation to the Director-General for taking on the immense responsibility of heading FAO, and the important work it undertakes worldwide.
The Director-General and the Secretary went on to share views on the importance of innovation, science, technology and creative partnerships to build resilient agri-food systems and address the many challenges the agriculture sectors face, such as climate change, transboundary pests and diseases and others.
The Director-General highlighted the reforms he has emplaced in the Organization since taking office, notably creating a diverse Core Leadership Team coupled with a new, modular management structure that ensures FAO is fit-for-purpose and equipped to deliver its new proposed Strategic Framework (SF), in support of Members and their specific agri-food system needs.
Secretary Vilsack commended the process deployed by FAO to develop its new proposed SF, while appreciating that key issues such as innovation, technology, partnerships and others would underpin advancement of the new proposed SF.
Secretary Vilsack also stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of building resilience, and appreciated the focus that the Director-General has put on resilience through its Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) and other FAO work.
They also discussed the potential agri-food systems have to help lift people out of poverty, while changing lives and safeguarding the environment at the same time.
The Director-General and Secretary Vilsack agreed on the importance of science and technology for agri-food system transformation, and on the importance of innovating policies, business models and technology.
The Director-General noted that innovation is an area where the USA can play a key role in supporting FAO, given its expertise and know-how, while highlighting that the USA is in a position to provide an influential and reputable voice to the promotion of innovation on a large scale.
The Director-General also touched upon other possible areas of increased collaboration, such as the Dry Corridor of Central America and on the new Strategic Framework that will be presented at the upcoming 42nd Session of the FAO Conference.