172nd Session of the FAO Council - Item 13: Address by candidates for the post of Director-General

Dear Colleagues and Members,

It is my great honour to have a second chance to face you, to present to you, report to you and answer your questions, and move ahead with the FAO Agenda together over the next four years.

I will use this time of 15 minutes, and will start with the first slide.

Based on the Basic Texts, all the candidates can distribute the Manifesto in advance, but since I was very busy, I asked the Chinese Mission, on my behalf, to distribute my manifesto in six languages, which I am presenting to you now, so you can follow.

To build a dynamic FAO for a better world, this was my firm commitment in 2019. Thank you for your support and collaboration during this voyage, during which we faced many unexpected challenges marked by a wave of unprecedented complex overlapping crises, each one affecting all of us. For all the achievements, we worked together, and together we made extraordinary achievements, with our colleagues and with the your support and of all the partners.

First, it is a new vision, a new structure, a new initiative to build a new FAO. I am not going through all the details, because you can follow the screen, and also with the disk we distributed to you.

A new Strategy designed for a new narrative. I am especially proud that the Strategic Framework for the next ten years was endorsed by the Ministerial Conference two years ago. That has really changed the narrative, and the four betters are guiding us forward. 

The structural reform leading to a systematic transformation. You can see now, the new FAO is presented to you, not only from the Entrance to the Cafeteria, but also from the Headquarters to the country offices. Also from the physical, to a changed mentality. That is what I am really happy to report to you.

I established so many different new units/offices, especially the Oversight Advisory Committee. It was established for the first time officially in FAO and also, together with Core Leaders, we have a zero tolerance policy for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, sexual exploitation, abuse of authority.

We have established many new offices, as I mentioned, an Ombudsman Office (OMB), Ethics Office (ETH) and also the Core Leadership Team and Reporting line A and B. Then we have a new Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is sole one in the UN system. That is why we are aiming for the coming SDG Summit in September. Also, the Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs (OSL). That is why last month the UN had an LDC5 Conference. The Secretary-General was very happy to mention FAO that innovatively established a structure to fit the purpose.

We strengthened FAO Investment Centre. We have Joint Centres with the sister UN Agencies and then, of course, we strengthened the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) and others.

The resource mobilization is at a historic high. A Chinese saying says that “food and fodder should go ahead of troops and horses”. That is also a historic high. In 2022, FAO mobilized over USD 2.1 billion in volunteer contributions, 51 percent increase over 2021, which was also a historic breakthrough year with a 61 percent increase of a five-year average. That is something that is historical.

We established a new people-centred culture and now the staff here is very happy. It is a happy place to work. Of course, we need to improve more. And then others. The recruitment process is open, around 630 staff have been recruited in the past 4 years, the majority is women and external. It is balanced.

Infrastructure improved. Gender parity, it was 94 percent of indicators exist in the UN action plan on gender equality. That is evaluated by the UN, not by ourselves.

Then come all these issues. Extraordinary achievements. You can read. I do not want to say too much because if you want to look at the details, we have all these Reports during the past years, during the Council I addressed.

FAO flagship Hand-in-Hand Initiative and also addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. So, with the help of the Crisis Management Team, we came over with quite a safe place to work. Even during that, we had a lot of historical deliverables. The Pre-Summit was the first physical and hybrid meeting during the pandemic in the UN system. More than 600 participants, including Ministers, Vice-Ministers, and high-level delegations came to Headquarters in 2021. I really appreciate all my colleagues who managed that with zero COVID-19 case. That is really remarkable.

Of course, I have to appreciate the Host Country, Italy in FAO headquarters and other host countries to support FAO activities on the ground.

All the historical new platforms, like the World Food Forum, were established, very impactful and there is more and more coming. Then the digital initiatives. As I said many times, we have a digital world and we have a non-digital world. Luckily, FAO built the digital FAO during the past four years.

The One Country One Commodity and Green City initiatives. So, now we have to look at both sides, urban and the rural areas, how to integrate our work.

Science and innovation is one of the breakthroughs. And data for informed decision-making, FAO technical work was strengthened and the two Strategies, on Climate Change and Science and Innovation were endorsed. So, we are now going to prepare for the action plan.

At the coming Conference, we will focus on Water Resource Management for the four betters. The Global Soil Partnership, Soil mapping, forestry and One Health also. FAO now plays a decisive role on the One Health and Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issues after so many years. My colleague, Ms Maria Helena Semedo, she was very proud of that and she contributed a lot.

On emergency assistance, since we established a new Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) and now all the hot spots – Afghanistan, Eastern Horn of Africa, Ukraine and others. Yesterday, I had a very good meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. He appreciated me very much. Before I came, I was the co-chairperson to support Ukraine agriculture development. And also after I came to FAO, FAO is always working very closely with Ukraine farmers and people. 

Now, the common understanding for a better FAO, we are facing new challenges but also it is a new opportunity for us, as I said always. FAO adapted and evolved to answer the international call for support and solidarity.

The past four years have written a new chapter in FAO history, informed by the past. My reflections going forward.

First, above all the successful FAO relies on the ownership, trust and support of FAO Members. Second, governance of FAO must allow a rules-based approach, in accordance with the Organization’s Basic Texts. There are all the ten points I mention here. They are my thoughts, my observations after four years, how to interact with our Members, our staff, our partners. That is our joint common ground, to start with the next four years. Those are the ten points. I hope you can take ownership on these points and there we can have a common language in the future.

Now, more importantly is how FAO can better contribute for a better world. I quote here the FAO Constitution and still we have a lot of work to do together. I focus of four betters. For each better we have three actions and more focussing on value-added impact areas. I had a long and enormous discussions with my Core Leaders during the past two years under the guidance of four betters and 20 Programme Priority Areas (PPAs). For better production, there will be the value chain, the One Country One Commodity, and the BlueWave spearheading blue transformation and the modernization of farmer field school.

For better nutrition, we also mention three, four areas. Then, better environment and better life, leaving no one behind. Hand-in-Hand Initiative, resilient, inclusive, rural transformation and so on.

Then, it comes to the five key dimensions for the next four years. First, further increase the resources mobilization and scaling up both traditional and new partnerships, because traditionally we depend on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Still we want to continue, but we also explore the new ones, from international finance institutions (IFIs), regional banks and other emerging economic powers. They are willing to support FAO.

Second, fully leverage FAO potential, advance innovation, drive transformation. FAO should create a centre of excellence in a digital agriculture and also what does public good from FAO mean. We need to offer the data- and science-based analysis and flagship publications.

We also want to use the traditional knowledge. We want to establish a global food and agriculture museum and a network, including the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and the digital FAO, of course.

Third, the World Food Forum, where it says to promote a tailored investment plan and also provide a solid support for Least Developed Countries.

Fourth, strengthening FAO’s capacity and capability to serve the Members. If FAO itself is not so well equipped, modernized, then how can we support our Members, especially vulnerable Members? We need also to improve the human resources development and attract talents from all corners of the world.

During the next four years, one of the important events will be FAO approaching its 80^th anniversary. We strive to make it more dynamic and a more modern and more beautiful Organization.

The five critical entry points, FAO increases support for SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs, to build adaptive capacity and respond to the specific needs of vulnerable groups in those countries, through the resource mobilization. FAO will set up a global sustainable value chain cooperation network for research and development and investment and production on tropical agriculture. Because tropical and subtropical countries account for more than 113 Members. We have several big countries, like the United States of America, China, India, Brazil which are located also in some big parts of the tropical and sub-tropical. So, they can offer some experiences to share with the rest of the tropic countries.

FAO will develop global strategies for health and low carbon animal protein production reducing stress on the resources, on the investment. Because it is one of the bigger issues for the climate change from the agricultural sector, especially animal protein production. Because we need animal protein, for sure, for the development, but how to minimize the impacts on the environment.

FAO is responsive to climate crises, prioritize agro forestry systems that are adaptive and resilient.

FAO will also fully respect the recommendations of the Oversight Advisory Committee and the relevant professional external review, also Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN). So, they are coming. They are welcome.

Last but not least, what FAO expressly delivered in the next four years will require us to work together and let our joint efforts forge ahead together. I reaffirm that in the next four years I will work closely with you, partners, my leadership team and staff to translate FAO’s Strategy into action, initiatives into outcomes. Our global network will be better positioned to make an even greater contribution. I thank you.

Ms Nosipho Nausca-Jean NGCABA (Chairperson of the Africa Regional Group)   

I welcome our special Director-General candidate. South Africa is delivering this statement on behalf of the Africa Regional Group together with Niger, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania and Lesotho.

At the outset, the Group wishes to thank the Director-General for outlining his vision for his second term as Director-General of the FAO and, as he has stated, his commitment to advanced food security in Africa. In this regard, the Group wishes to pose the following two questions to the Director-General.

One, in your second term, is the utilization of the African expertise in the work of the FAO a priority? If so, how and where will this expertise be utilized? And if not, why not?

Our second question goes as follows: does the Director-General believe that the global food crisis has underlined the need for increased self-sufficiency in the key commodities? And if so, how will FAO encourage and support the production, the use and trade of African orphan crops and African fertilizers? If not, why not?

I will return after the Director-General’s responses.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

Thank you, Ambassador, for your thoughtful questions, relevant to African development, and most importantly, to their needs.

First, the answer to your first question. Africa, you have big potential, not only vast land and biodiversity, but also expertise. Only Africa is African’s Africa. Only we learn working together with African local experts, and then we have a more tailored service to support African development. That is, number one, politically very clear.

Second, how to learn together? Through FAO Headquarters and the network. I am ready to support. During the past four years I already started that cross-continent collaboration. Four years ago I heard that question from Africa, how to use the African expertise in other regions. You can see now a lot of Africa were sent out of Africa, to Asia, to Latin America and vice versa, to be FAORs. Because your people find experience in other regions and then will transfer it to your continent. That is the beauty and value of FAO networks. For so many years FAO did not use them. So, I encourage cross-continent collaboration.

Third, the use the African expertise should be fair, open, merit–based opportunity for Africa applicants.

Last but not least, we wanted to also support Africa to have strengthened the extension service for technology transfer.

For your second question, I want to make it a little bit shorter because Africa, you can produce more with less. Second, you have a huge potential with adequate policy, investment and science innovation. You can not only manage it to achieve your own food security and also you can become the potential world food basket, in 30 years, before 2063, I mentioned this so many times, before I reach my 100th birthday. By the way, yesterday we were happy to have our 50th anniversary of Ms Beth Bechdol. So, let us have another 50 years.

Work for Africa, first and have a lot of staple food. I think, if possible, you can have urbanization, industrialization, you can improve the income. And then you can import more staple food from other regions who is ideally environment-friendly producers of staple food. But for perishable products, for the short distance transportation, environment-friendly commodities should be locally produced, they are better. But, of course, you need the cold chain and value chain management and you need also infrastructure improvement. And, more importantly, the food’s safety capacity, to check all the food locally produced and food imported to Africa, and there you can be in a good position to speed up the free trade zone.

Ms Nosipho Nausca-Jean NGCABA (Chairperson of the Africa Regional Group)

Thank you very much to the Director-General for your very comprehensive replies. The African Regional Group looks forward to continuing its exchanges with the Director-General leading to the election in the early July 2023. And be assured of our support for your re-election.

Mr Khalid MEHBOOB (Vice-Chairperson of the Asia Regional Group)       

I will be asking three questions on behalf of the Asia Group. At the outset, we would like to thank the Director-General for outlining his vision for FAO. Now I will ask the three questions.

The first question is: during your tenure you have emphasized science and innovation in the agricultural sector, including digital agriculture. How did FAO contribute to the sustainable agrifood system transformation in the past four years? How can FAO disseminate and strengthen technological capacity of developing countries? How can science and innovation provide solutions to water-related challenges, including water scarcity, especially in Asia?

Question two: under the deteriorated global food security situation, what kind of activities should be prioritized and how the series of flagship initiatives, such as the Hand-in-Hand Initiative or the One Country One Product Initiative should be promoted?

And the third question is the shared concerns of the Asia region include the under-representation, improvement of farmers’ uptake through sustainable farming systems, climate change adaptation and mitigation. What is your vision to address these problems?

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

You made three questions, but they actually are seven. How can I answer you? Which are the most important three? What I understood there, that is typical Asian thinking. It looks small but it is big.

First, what I have achieved through a series of initiatives. Of course, I cannot judge by myself, but due to the pandemic but thanks to the digital FAO we launched the Hand-in-Hand Initiative. Mr Hans Hoogeveen was a former Ambassador. He asked me questions, how to use the Hand-in-Hand Initiative. Now I can tell you. Hand-in-Hand is a business model change. It is not a question of money. It is a question of how to speed up efficiency and effectively help the Members. Because we are now in the digital world. Especially Asia. So, that is the Hand-in-Hand.

In addition, the cooperative coherence among the UN system and also with the private sector. So, that is why Hand-in-Hand is the five key partners – government, like you, and the private and academia, NGOs, and farmer organizations and other international organizations, not only UN organizations. The Hand-in-Hand is a platform. What is the digital shared economy? It is a platform. A lot of Organizations, big or small, rich or poor, they did not know how to build a platform.

Based on my 20 years’ experience in China, we built a lot of big or small platforms. Let the key players play and help our customers. Because we have limited sources - that is the reality. And that is why the digital solution for Pacific Islands and now there are more investment.  Bangladesh and other Asian countries, even Nepal, they attract more investment in agrifood systems. That is the achievement.

Also other initiatives, like One Country One Commodity. Because a lot of developing Members, not only Asia, Africa and Latin America, if you ask what is the gap between the developed and the developing country, you suddenly see, one commodity from the developed are very well known. We always say the coffee. Which is best? Maybe you have a different opinion. Or wine. You have a different opinion. But if you ask the consumers, most will probably they will point out the products from the developed nations.

So, the One Country One Commodity, you will see we will have the commodity show in FAO Headquarter, during the World Food Forum. That is the next step. We will make it really attractive not only for governments, for consumers and for businesspersons that come to FAO. I think that is one.

Second, on the deteriorating situation. In Asia, in general, the big bottleneck is land. The only solution is innovation and enabling policies. But the advantage of Asia, you have a lot of people, which means a lot of potential purchasing power of consumers. So, how to convert the potential natural resources advantages to the potential economic advantages. That is what Asia should work together with the international organizations and community. And you did. You have done. That is why during the past four years the Asian economy is so promising.

I should tell you now that in FAO, assessed contributions, an 85 percent increase will come from Asia in the coming two years. That is indicated by UN standards. The Asian economy developed very well, based on the development of agrifood systems, environment and the sustainable development and urbanization and industrialization together. Not so many people realize that. I read the Report from the Chancellor of Germany when he returned from China and Vietnam. He told us as a European leader how to observe the Asian progress during the past four years.

Third, you asked what the experience we can share from Asia. I had a talk with leaders in Asia and Singapore should be playing a leading role on the Small Islands. Because Singapore is only one the richest small islands. They are not SIDS but they are Small Island countries. And also smallholder farmers experience from Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia or even Bangladesh can share with the world.

In short, Asia wisdom, Asia humility, Asia innovation, especially related to smallholder farmers, will benefit smallholder farmers in the world, it accounts for 85 percent of farmers in the world. That is our solution or alternative option.

Mr Khalid MEHBOOB (Vice-Chairperson of the Asia Regional Group)  

Thank you, Director-General, for your detailed and comprehensive replies to the Asia Group questions. It is very satisfying to hear your views and your vision for Asia.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

Also because due to the sharp increase of the assessed contributions. And the under-represented members, the majority are from Asia: China, Japan, Korea, India, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam and if you consider Türkiye, of course here it is not Asia, and also Saudi Arabia, the Near East.

Let us work together, on both sides. And also America. I know America also will ask me questions about the under-represented. All this group, we have to work together. Because if you ask me transparent and merit-based recruitment, at the same time, you also request me to speed up the solving of the under-represented issues.

From FAO’s side, we have advocated FAO posts and FAO mandates to attract the younger generation to apply. But at the same time the Members have to invest a little bit in FAO, with the Junior Professional Officer Programme (JPO) or internships. Let them be familiar with FAO and related areas. As an experience, you can learn from France 20 years ago. Now there is a French younger generation that can speak very good English, of course, and also understand agrifood systems very well.

Recently, I recruited several from France and Britain because they are from external, D-2 level. So, Asia, please, learn from some developed nations that already had the experience 20 years ago.

Ms Daniela ROTONDARO (Chairperson of European Regional Group)      

Thank you, Director-General and thank you for sharing your manifesto with us, From Vision to Action. FAO is an Organization at the service of all its Members for achieving the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs). My question is specifically what do you want to achieve for our region during your second term mandate?

The other question is: how will you strengthen FAO governance and the “One UN” approach in FAO’s work? Of course this goes beyond Rome. With regard to World Food Programme (WFP) and FAO, we would like to know which are your priorities for working with them to build resilience against shocks and to improve food security?.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

Thank you for your questions. Only two?

Ms Daniela ROTONDARO (Chairperson of European Regional Group)

Yes.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

I expected more from Europe.It surprises me. I did not expect so many questions from Asia. Sometimes it changes so fast, I even cannot catch up with it. Anyway, I am happy too.

First, I appreciate the long commitment and support from the European Region, especially Western Europe, used to be called Western Europe, when I was young. Western Europe means advanced in technology, it means advanced in investment and also advanced in management. That is what we can learn. Now it is time to learn from each other.

From resources, from technology, from expertise you are more donors. That is why in the Hand-in-Hand Initiative we have a donor side and we have a recipient side. But sometimes Europe also needs to become the recipient side. I had a serious talk with the relevant Ministers and Commissioners.

First, I made already a proposal to some ministers and commissioners. Look at Europe from north to south. It is very big for you but not big for me, to be frank, because I am used to working on that scale. From Heilongjiang, similar to Nordic, from Hainan even hotter that Cyprus.

What I really sincerely hope is you use my experience and background, because I am the right person to understand Europe. Since 38 years ago, 1985. My first agricultural exhibition from Netherlands in Beijing, I was assistant to them. More specifically, I really used the FAO expert, neutral, professional position to have regional agriculture zoning design.

For instance, Iceland, you are not the ideal place to produce fruit or even some staple food. But what is the specific value of Iceland in the whole European system and in the whole world? Or Norway, Cyprus, Malta, or big states like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, you can have your own. But you cannot cover all the commodities competitively even within Europe. You have to jump out of the box of Europe. Because you will face competition not far, across the Mediterranean Sea. That is your historic position. You cannot change.

If you are willing to, based on what you will ask. I sincerely hope. Because 35 years ago we did it in China. They competed among different provinces and then we had the guidelines, how the comprehensive regional development for agrifood systems. That is one.

Second, how to make the European science and academic institutions work together, to support FAO and also build up competitiveness in the world. Because you are one of the leading continents. You are developed. It is not only a matter of Europe, it is a matter of the world. These are the two things I really specifically wanted to address. Because it is most related to my experience and to the FAO mandate.

For the RBAs collaboration, it is a historic time also. Now we have a new Executive Director of WFP, Ambassador Ms Cindy McCain. She has a big heart and a long experience. And also a quite new IFAD president from Europe, from Spain. We had an informal meeting already. We will have a Headquarters coordination and then we will start a holistic design at the country level. Maybe we can have a consensus starting with 10 or 20 countries who are willing to and from the emergency aid to the agrifood systems development and to financial services.

For instance, South Africa, not only vulnerable countries, you need how to speed up transformation of agrifood systems in South Africa. We are three Organizations coming and do design. You are not supposed to be the recipient of the humanitarian aid, but you will become the base, product base or provider, how to produce food in South Africa to support the other countries. That WFP can offer. And then FAO, of course, we can look at the whole system of agrifood systems. And then what financial services you need.

You have money. I know the local government in South Africa, they have a lot of money. They are always left at the end of the year, based on my knowledge. And then how to create new financial products to support your farmers, no matter whether big or small. And then to get the experience in the southern part of Africa. Ideally, you are not a poor country but also some poor countries, maybe WFP can play a more decisive role. You start with the purchasing power, how to transform agrifood systems.

I had four years ‘thinking because three years ago I had a discussion with the former Ambassador of America, Mr Kip Tom. He is a very successful entrepreneur in agribusiness. And also Mr David Beasley. But unfortunately the pandemic came and we could not move forward. But now it has renewed my original ideas. I already had an informal discussion with them and after July we will try to have a joint trip and also at headquarter level, how to build a real working group at the country level who ask our offices and representatives there to work together.

Also IFAD and WFP, it is not necessary to build so many country offices. They can use the FAO network.

I hope you can support from the donor side. So, that is real Rome-based Agencies (RBAs) collaboration.

Ms Monica ROBELO RAFFONE (Chairperson of the Latin America and the Caribbean Group)

We have three questions. We are interested in hearing your specific vision on the financial future of FAO. Do you think it is feasible to ensure the financial stability of the institution from the regular budget and timely payment of assessed contributions by members or is it inevitable that the organization depends on voluntary contributions? In any case, how would you ensure that the direction of FAO, the emphasis of its work and its actions in practice are not defined by voluntary contributions from a limited number of countries?

FAO is for all its members, including middle-income countries and small islands developing states. How do you plan to address the needs and concerns of these countries, particularly those in the Latin American and Caribbean region, which continue to face challenges in terms of food security, malnutrition in all its forms, and rural poverty?

In many countries there is talk of the need for a new extension service that responds to the new dynamics of the rural sector. What measures do you propose to ensure that FAO's knowledge reaches producers in developing countries, particularly small-scale ones, so that from the field they contribute and benefit from the four betters that you have proposed? How would you measure the success of that effort?

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

You end up also with more than three.

First, I know that for years and years your region was a little bit worried about the balance between assessed contributions and voluntary contributions. Who will speak more loudly getting the orientation of FAO? Myself also the same, before I came to Rome. But you have to define what the role is and function of assessed contribution and what is really meaningful for the voluntary contributions. It not only depends on where the money come from, it also depends on the purpose of the money. Therefore, purpose-oriented. That is why I ask the increase a little bit of assessed contributions. Because it shows your political willingness to owner this Organization.

This Organization by nature is an intergovernmental specialized agency under UN family. We are legally independent, operate based on our Constitution and Basic Texts. That is why, for years, I always repeated it and asked Members, staff and Management, we have to respect the Basic Texts. That is the starting point.

We look at that and the assessed contributions are increased to maintain the basic capacity. If we do not have any basic expertise in the divisions of fisheries and aquaculture, how can you address the issues related? We have been losing during the past years, our capacity on the technical expertise. So, that is why I put so much effort. Maybe there are a lot of things you did not know in the past four years.

I strengthened the capacity of the excellence of knowledge and technology from structural reform, from the established positions of Chief Scientist and Chief Economist and established all these relevant Offices and Joint Centres. Its instrument and mechanism established to protect FAO as an intergovernmental UN specialized agency.

Of course, if we do not increase the assessed contributions properly, you are worried about it, more and more voluntary contributions should be driven by the donors. Do not worry. Do you know why? Because I introduced serious arrangement of Strategic Framework. Some senior people here, like Mr Khalid Mehboob, can tell you. Before me, look at FAO’s Strategic Framework. It was not so serious, to be frank.

Because only the Strategic Framework can border our domain. So, any voluntary contribution should be in line with the Strategic Framework and the 20 Programme Priority Areas (PPAs), the four betters and other relevant experts. So, the more money, the better, from the voluntary contributions, because you are under the Strategic Framework. So, please, my amigo from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), do not worry because you have a lot of sheep and goats but you need a fence.

The Strategic Framework is our fence, to protect the core values of FAO. So, we are aiming for USD 5 billion more. I asked Ms Beth Bechdol and the other colleagues, “try your best to raise the voluntary contributions, as much as you can”.

In the second question, you ask about the four betters, how to benefit from smallholder farmers and middle income countries. We are moving from the vulnerable countries first, I said that at the beginning, four years ago, it is not easy to limit only the poor countries, LDCs. We are moving up to the middle income. Before also the European region’s question.

We are willing to offer the service to the Europeans because FAO is a UN agency. It is a global operation. We are at service for 194 Members. But, yes, first, Members, you have to have a willingness. Second, FAO is capable to offer the service. That is the two aspects. If we have the capacity but you are not willing to, that is not my fault. But Members from Europe, from middle income and upper income, you asked it but FAO is not capable to do so. That is my problem. Of course, we need your support to strengthen our capability.

I think for smallholder farmers, family farmers and bigger farmers, I think they can also benefit from the four betters. Because better production is not only for big farmers, it is for smallholder farmers to offer the two-thirds of food production availability in the world. Even 85 percent of farmers are small but they offer, at least, two-thirds of food.

What is the value of the bigger farmer or commercial farmer? They stabilize the international supply chain. The food accessibility and food availability, especially for the staple foods. The dry commodities, which should be for the cross-continent transportation. And also environment-friendly.

For smallholders, better nutrition, of course they may focus on the more nutritious commodities, not suitable for the long distance transportation. Even in Europe also should be encouraging these family farmer producers of perishable products. Or the United States of America also. You do not need to transport them from one place to another place, more than 1 000 kilometres. Economically maybe it is good but for the environmentally it is not good.

That was my experience in China.  Some perishable commodities being transported from the Hainan to Beijing should be stopped because it is 3 000 kilometres distance. Environmentally it is not good.

Last but not least, I think for the better environment should be built villages or township public parks. Green city. Green city is not like Roma, Beijing, Shanghai, New York or Paris. We should look at the local community green park. That is what I discussed with my colleagues, we are going to establish the FAO forest park in Rome.

To show and really have the platform for our guests – Ministers, Vice Ministers, Presidents, Heads of State or some rich Chief Executive Officer (CEOs), public figures – that can come to plant a tree in Rome and to show our solidarity and support the sustainable development in Rome and in Italy. In FAO we must walk the talk.

And last…

CHAIRPERSON

The ten minutes have passed.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL 

Okay, thank you.

Mr Saywan BARZANI (Chairperson of the Near East Regional Group)

I would like to express our full support for you to have a second mandate at the helm of FAO. We also fully support the reform which you have adopted to make FAO more flexible, more agile and more responsive to the multiple global challenges which have had their impact on the agrifood systems. We appreciate the adjustments you made, making FAO more efficient.

As far as the programme and project management and the global and regional initiatives are concerned, we have hosted you in our meeting on 4 April and we have taken note of your comments and guidance.

You have raised the issue of the prospects for collaboration with the Near East region and you have mentioned that the collective work in such exceptional circumstances is required to face the rising levels of food insecurity and hunger, not to mention the current challenges which have affected the agrifood systems, namely climate change, desertification, economic crises and conflicts. We would like to take this opportunity to express our deep concern regarding the unfolding event in Sudan which will have negative impact on the region as a whole.

Director-General, new challenges have emerged, precisely the climate change, water scarcity, desertification, economic crises and unprecedented migration from the rural towards the urban areas, which will all have an impact on food security in many of our countries.

Our first question is what is your vision for cooperation with our region? Our region, despite the many challenges, have huge human capabilities and opportunities for the agricultural sector and for environmentally-friendly systems. If we received the adequate support and assistance from FAO, what are the positive indications or indicators you may see to strengthen the cooperation with our countries?

Secondly, we highly appreciate the three initiatives, the Hand-in-Hand, the 1 000 Digital Villages and the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP). Do you have other initiatives in store? We also wonder if it is possible to adopt a Strategy to aim at the equity in the water distribution among the riparian countries sharing transboundary rivers and we wonder if it is possible to formulate policies for the riparian countries to share the damage to respect equity in their water undertakings and to create opportunities for collaboration, aiming at enjoying the interests of all parties.

Thirdly, what are your plans to address the issue of budget deficit and, fourthly, what is your future vision regarding the partnerships between FAO.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

You used six minutes so now have four or five minutes. First, your region. First a lot of overlapping crisis, for sure. So yes. But now it is at a very positive stage, new development in your region, more solidarity, more peaceful movement. That offers a big chance for FAO. So we want to encourage the increase of political willingness to engage in regional dialogue and collaboration first. That is why I am happy your government hosted the Regional Conference after Oman, and that is your internal or regional issues. So more and more, working together, FAO will have more chance to engage.

Second, I also think acknowledging your efforts in your region, we have more adequate, highly qualified staff to work with your Members in your region, and the brotherhood and the sisterhood.

Third, I think also for your region now, it is a big issue related to water management, and water availability and efficiency, that is why this year we designed the thematic subject on water resource management for the next year. So related to your second question, I will, if your region agree, FAO is willing to take a leading role on the design, holistic and comprehensive, of water resources utilization for the rivers basin. Because that is my experience, you know I work in this regard with dams, so the Yangtze River, and I also stayed in Ningxia, if you look, in Ningxia there is the yellow river.

So I have about 20 or 30 years’ experience on river Management and from the top to the bottom it is about 6 000 kilometres long. So in your region you have several big rivers, but how do you have a holistic design and technical guidelines. FAO is not allowed to enter into territory issues, but you know if you ask a holistic way to design the river basin development, it will be of benefit to all the Members. So depends on your region politician’s needs and political willingness.

Third, about how to strengthen cooperation with the other Organizations. Your region and also other regions in FAO have joint the Hand-in-Hand Initiative and the platform World Food Forum, and we are not only strengthening cooperation, not only with UN systems but also with the financial and technical aspects, as well as others. That is definite.

But for your region you have a special movement also initiated by your Members, big Members, for the reforestation and anti-desertification programme, Green Near East. So in all this FAO has room to play and the role to make more contribution to your region – and for dust also, dust control. It is a cross-border issue. We always consider the cross-border issues about the animal and plant disease, but we never look at the cross-border dust. That is also a big issue.

In FAO, we have the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), we have a Forestry Division and others. We should work on land and water. I had a good meeting with the honourable President of Iraq, he was a former FAO staff, for 6 or 7 years, so we try and use this momentum and the political willingness and support from your region, to change a little bit of the narrative and development for peace.

Ms Elissa GOLBERG (Co-Chairperson of the North America Regional Group)

The North America Regional Group appreciates the opportunity to join this formal question and answer session with the incumbent candidate. For FAO Director-General, whom, if appointed, we would expect to demonstrate a steadfast commitment to accountable governance that respects the role of its Member States, who encourages inclusive human resources management, advocates for science-based approaches that reinforce innovation and FAO role in global standard setting, and who fosters positive cross-regional knowledge and collaboration, and cooperation of course amongst the Rome-based Agencies (RBAs).

Let me begin by asking the candidate, how would you ensure that FAO’s activities including procurement and data protection, are impartial, independent and transparent, and do not advance the foreign policy priorities of any individual Member State? And how would you work in support of UN Secretary-General Mr António Guterres in addressing and mitigating the exacerbated impacts on global food security of Russian Federation’s war in Ukraine?

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

I fully agree with your statement. FAO runs a data-based and rule based governance. We have several functions. If you look at the Basic Texts on the second paragraph, there are several. I always remind our Members and our Staff that we should work based on our Basic Texts and FAO mandate.

Second, you are asking about transparency and accountability, but what is the bottleneck, not only for FAO, but for any other organization or company or country? What is the real bottle neck? It is that we should use the new technology to change. I said at one time, 30 years ago you were dependent on paper and then it was fax, and then it was email – and now it is digital.

The digital world is 360-degree transparent. So now all the investigations and traceability and accountability, even something we could not remember or maybe forget. Once I had an experience with Mr Laurent Thomas. “Oh maybe I forgot, or you forgot!” And then we traced through our communication easily. “Ah! That is what we said” So digital FAO is a real solution. Please compare FAO with other sister agencies, what level of transparency relates to digitalization. If all the staff including the Director-General through all the business models, through the digital, and if something is wrong, you have to take your responsibility. So digitalization.

Second, we also need internal transparency, which is why I introduced the Oversight Advisory Committee. All the Members that experienced the former Senior Staff in the UN sister Agencies. That helps me give adequate recommendation and consultation and also to timely and regularly come to FAO to check the operational and the risk Management. That is an instrument and mechanism to be installed.

Third, I think also all the procurement and the data protection and data collection, now we have established a new unit, the Data Protection Unit, directly under the Office of Director General (ODG), because on the one hand we had to keep our confidentiality and privacy related to data, and on the other hand it should be adequate and functional to protect the FAO intellectual property related to data. Data is property.

Last but not least, the FAO is a neutral, professional Organization. Some Members may not always be happy but FAO is still now working on consensus. So we have to keep neutral as much as possible and also as professional as possible, otherwise why we need other organizations or other agencies, other P, other F– so we have to self-restrain our domain; we cannot deal with everything that we want because FAO Basic Texts defines out major function and mandate. That is what I can tell you.

For any specific country or Members, if they ask, we have to be in line with the FAO mandate, because especially the bigger Members, if we have an initiative and some investment, it is good for other Members. Why do we stop it? FAO is not a building in the air, FAO is supported by the bigger pillars who have technology, money and human resources. Otherwise, do not be naïve – I can tell you, for many years since the beginning, in 1951 when FAO came to Rome, we became more and more dependent on Europe. For sure! Any Members who had a good initiative, they started through the FAO, and that is why we started the Triangular Cooperation.

You cannot say that is our initiative from one of the biggest states of Europe and without their support how can we cover ideas from us and then ask everyone’s support. Of course, it is a one way. And the other way, in most cases, we encourage among the Members to learn about each other, support each other. As I said, FAO is a network, FAO is a platform. SSC cooperation also? Big states from the South, they support others, and the Triangular Cooperation also, any big or small state, you can through FAO find the recipient countries to work together.

That is the real internationalism, real multilateralism. Otherwise even for the North America Group, you are two Members – I appreciate you gave a lot of support. In the past three years most of the increase in investment on science and innovation is from America. And recently they initiated one project for Africa, value added crop – Mr Máximo Torero Cullen is here – they came to FAO and they worked with our relevant division. So it is good, because they offer money, resources and expertise to FAO and they support Africa.

So be careful. I want to use this opportunity with this question, it is a very good question, but we have to be clear and not be naïve. And also last year, Germany proposed global response to food security, and they searched to work with FAO, World Food Programme (WFP) and World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Bank. We support! We cannot say, “No, that is a German initiative!” ! So we appreciate it. But how to keep the role of FAO as professional and neutral. That is why we want to build transparency. Thank you.

Ms Elissa GOLBERG (Co-Chairperson of the North America Regional Group)

With limited time left, we will be interested in our follow-up discussions with you, with the additional Regional Group’s specific engagement. We have got additional questions for you about how you will pursue implementation strategies with respect to climate change, science and innovation and the private sector – and of course we look forward to working with you as you refine your vision and consider implementation strategies and partnership with Members. But certainly we will be keen to hear your perspectives on how you see engagement with the private sector and how you do see rolling out strategies related to the policies adopted on climate change, science and innovation.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

I will be clear, if you read my last part, all the answers are there because due to time limits I did not go into details to explain. I am a very pragmatic person, I was a scientist for many years. I do not want to talk too much. But all is Strategy and then an action plan.

That is not only for the next four years, but maybe beyond, after I retire from FAO. But I will not retire from my career, to work for the people and for the vulnerable people especially, first. And of course I want to support those who used to help me, from Europe, from America, from richer countries. I know the richer countries, for over 40 years you have had a lot of programmes, small or big, left over.

If we are willing of course, at that time I will be a freelance, and so if you support me I will offer a 50 percent discount of service at that time. Thank you.

Ms Emma HATCHER (Chairperson of the Southwest Pacific Regional Group)

Director-General, the Southwest Pacific Region has two questions for you to answer: I will ask them both together and request that you provide targeted answers to both questions with broadly an equal allocation of time to both questions.

Our first question is on the regional dimensions of the implementation of the Strategy on Climate Change and Science and Innovation. These Strategies are particularly important in the Southwest Pacific context, a region vulnerable to climate change, and where science and innovation is critical to boosting resilience and adaptation. Our question is, how does FAO intend to implement these Strategies sensitive to the unique context of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – including FAO’s efforts to improve coordination with other actors such as the Pacific Community, to prevent duplication and work efficiently with Pacific partners?

My second question relates and reflects on the Joint Statement of 8 February 2023 by you and the Heads of International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Food Programme (WFP) and World Trade Organization (WTO), on the global food and nutrition security crisis. That Statement identified the need to reform and to repurpose harmful subsidies as one of three urgent actions to prevent a worsening of the food and nutrition security crisis. Our question is how will FAO act on this statement to promote and support reforming and repurposing harmful agricultural subsidies, including those that are environmentally harmful, for positive agrifood system transformation?

We look forward to your answers to both of these questions.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Thank you, your two questions are very rightly pointing out that at FAO we have endorsed three Strategies during the past four years. One is Climate Change, one is Science and Innovation and one is Private Sector Engagement. That is three. And also a mainstream Action Plan related to Biodiversity.

Not only in your small island that are in your sub-region. Also in other small islands in the Caribbean and African region. That is why I established the Office of the Small Island Developing Islands (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Land Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs), but it still will take time to take off, and we are going to strengthen that on the network, we are going to propose after the Ministerial Conference on 29th June, we are expecting more of the Ministries to take ownership and partnership of course.

And second also, I think the climate change and the biodiversity loss specifically in the small islands, means they need capacity building. Capacity building needs support from donors – Australia or others – and those who are willing to offer their support. Otherwise it is very difficult to say, there is even no basic data.

The third, I think we need to get them on board, or partnership, because any small islands state is far away from the continent, but thanks to digital approach, it is much easier. But you said “duplicate” and I think we need to do more work, but I do not think there is much duplication. Even if you look in the continental countries or even among the domestic governments, there is too much duplication. But small island states I think need more support first.

And then last but not last, I think please also open the market accessibility for the small islands, because if one country is willing to support one commodity to access your market. I have always said that taro – I have been there several times, in the Asia Pacific – Taro is a small commodity in the world but it is a major staple food for that part of the world. But if they produce more they can export it to the continent, especially the developed nations, and it is good for them to improve their incomes and livelihood.

So maybe we need some matchmaking arrangement, a volunteer basis of course.

And you say the repositioning of investment: Of course World Trade Organization (WTO) will take a leading role and FAO will offer the technical support first. Second, we will also support WTO and other partners to work together on how to improve the efficiency of investment, Research and Development (R&D). That is why it should be related to the agrifood systems, not only related to the production, and the biodiversity, environmental issues. So we need to offer policy consultation, have the SIDS countries to establish enabling policy – that FAO can do.

And, last but not least, we can also encourage strongly all the Members who are willing to support them, we can offer training chances for those countries, the younger generation, they understand the issues. Otherwise, there is always this voice from the small island states that they did not have a chance to express.

That is why thanks to the hybrid model they can easily access FAO, but I had a talk with them several years ago, they said “it is difficult travelling 40 hours to just talk for about three or five minutes”. For you, Australia, you are a rich country, but for some island states. But sometimes they need to come physically, in person, but in most cases now they can get it online. So information sharing is also very important.

Finally: how can we help them develop the one commodity value chain, to improve their competitiveness? Thank you.

Ms Emma HATCHER (Chairperson of the Southwest Pacific Regional Group)

As we do have a little bit of time I will move to a third question and that question relates to your view on the Organization’s standard setting work, and what you think should be done to better improve and ensure timely and efficient development of plant, health and food standards to facilitate agricultural trade to address food security.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Thank you, it is a good question. I want to share my thoughts of the past 20 years. I also had a debate with my colleague from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, at that time. You know, the agricultural beauty is complementary and sharing: in all the history of civilization, you start to share your food with your neighbours, with your relatives, with your friends.

Now, in the modern times, how to build the complementary sharing economy of agrifood systems across the borders, across the countries.

First, we need to improve productivity in the staple foods, because that is basic food security. Second, we need to improve the nutrition of food, which may be locally produced – and there we need to support the small holder farmers to produce perishable food locally.

Those are the three categories, and then what is the role of the developed nations? Like Australia, I had a talk with your Minister of Trade, you have to support the developing countries to improve their capacity, to check the quality of food safety, CODEX and other national or international standards, or even entrepreneurial standards. If they are not confident to allow your import, because they are not sure of your food, you say, it is certified by European standard, by Chinese standard, by Japanese standard. No, you have to help them to improve their capacity to check the food safety.

On the ground, in the import countries, like I am happy to now see Lab installing in some African countries, when I last visited. So that is also a win-win beneficiary approach, because if someone has confidence to guarantee the quality of their food from your export countries, then its capacity building is not only a question of the CODEX, it is a question of how to change international aid.

Third, and I think also from the point of view of donor countries or rich countries, you have to offer to assist them to produce the perishable value-added cash crops. Because you increase their purchasing power and then they can import more food from Australia from your staple food, or from the United States, corn or soya bean or whatever.

That is really sharing the future among the agriculture systems. That is what we need. We export more cash crops vegetables to Japan and then we import more staple food from Canada, the United States of America, Brazil, and Australia, of course. So if the local farmers have no income it becomes a political issue - you know that.

Let us build the real shared agrifood systems globally and make each country have their comparative advantage for their resource utilization, for their marketing competitiveness. That is why I said I want to help the Europeans a little bit.

DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Excellences, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to stand in front of you and you know I am a very honest person, because I am a son of the small holder farmer. I came here not for money. I have enough money, even I used to live with about 12 RMB per month when I was a university student.

With my whole life experiences and knowledge, I want to help the poor people, which are like me 40 or even 30 years ago. In the next four years, I will be designing for the next 40 years because I will turn 60 in October. That is how I keep myself, competing with Mr Máximo Torero Cullen, Mr Godfrey Magwenzi, Ms Beth Bechdol and other younger people. I behave like a 40 years old, so I will have another 40 years, it will be 80 years for me– psychologically.

I want to support not only Africa and the Near East because I was fortunate to work seven and a half years in a Muslim province and also I started my career in Latin America and in North America and I got my education in Europe. I was responsible in the field of agricultural research and policies for so many years, about 26 years, bilaterally, between China and the rest of the world.

So make full use of me, do not waste me, give me another four years, and then I will return with a surprised beauty FAO to you.

Thank you.