Bilateral meeting with H.E. Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany

Siracusa - On the margins of the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ meeting in Siracusa, Italy, the FAO Director-General met with H.E. Cem Özdemir, Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany.

The Director-General informed the Minister of his fruitful meeting with Parliamentary State Secretary Ophelia Nick from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on the margins of the G20 meeting in Brazil, and that he looked forward to Dr Nick’s participation at the World Food Day 2024 ceremony on 16 October, as well as her participation in this year’s World Food Forum.

The Director-General stated that he welcomed an increased participation by Germany in the work of the Organization, not only through funding, but also through increased support in science and technology, including through partnerships with research centers, and through increased private sector engagement.

The Minister thanked the Director-General for the opportunity to meet and agreed that he also looked forward to increased and strengthened collaboration with FAO. The Minister highlighted that the right to adequate foods was a priority for Germany and in this regard appreciated this year’s World Food Day theme “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future”.

The Director-General emphasized that the world has the means and tools to end hunger, but we are missing the political commitment of leaders and concrete action on the ground, including adequate investment and capacity building.

The Minister referred to Germany’s voluntary contributions to the Organization and stressed the importance of close collaboration between the government and FAO to identify the most effective utilization of the funding. The Director-General noted that countries should change their business model to ensure that funding was an effective lever for change.

The pair also discussed the issues of forced migration and other global challenges which were exacerbating food insecurity, and the need, for example, for vocational training for young boys and girls in the agriculture sector to promote and support the development of small holder farming.

The Director-General referred to key FAO initiatives such as the Green Cities that were important mechanisms to assist countries in transforming agrifood systems and achieving the Four Betters.

The pair agreed to continue working together, including through international mechanisms such as the Visions for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to achieve the SDGs.