Bilateral Meeting with H.E. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Manpower and of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore

Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil - On the sideline of the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meeting in Brazil, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Manpower and of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore. This meeting took place following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) extending the partnership between Singapore and FAO for a third term.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the extension of the FAO-Singapore partnership, underscoring the importance of continuing to work together over the next 10 years. The Director-General encouraged Singapore to build up its role as a hub for innovation and intellectual collaboration, referring to it as a "knowledge hub" and highlighting its position as a global leader in biotech and novel technologies. The MoU will serve as a foundation for further strengthening cooperation, particularly in areas such as food safety standards, biotechnology, and intellectual property.

Food safety emerged as a core topic during the meeting, and Singapore’s stringent food safety standards were recognized as a model, not only for the region, but also globally. The Director-General emphasized that Singapore could serve as an example in promoting food safety standards beyond the region, helping to establish a benchmark for food products. FAO, through the Codex Alimentarius, could collaborate with Singapore to establish standards for new techs in the domain of agriculture and food security.

The meeting also focused on Singapore’s role in the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) programme, in particular in supporting other ASEAN countries as a priority. In line with Singapore’s drive to become a center for innovation, both sides discussed the potential for Singapore to incubate new agricultural technologies and innovations. There was consensus on reviewing and expanding the collaboration in agri-tech, particularly through initiatives supported by the SSTC.

H.E. Koon reiterated Singapore’s commitment to contribute not only financially but also through expertise and leadership in sustainability, food security, and technological innovation. The Director-General emphasized the need for high-income countries like Singapore to take on a larger role in addressing global food security challenges.