175th Session of Council FAO PARTNERSHIP AWARD CEREMONY Opening Remarks

Excellencies, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

Welcome to the FAO’s Partnership Award Ceremony. Today marks a celebration of the power of collaboration. 

We gather here to honour individuals and institutions who share our conviction of the value of working together to build a sustainable and food-secure future for all. 

Partnerships harness our collective talents and capabilities, to the benefit of all. They pave the way for impactful approaches, fostering creativity and combining innovation with traditional knowledge. They bring in fresh resources and methodologies leading to new business models, to ensure we reach out effectively and efficiently to those who have been left behind. 

Collaboration among governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations is critical in realizing the 2030 Agenda, and to FAO's mandate of achieving a sustainable and food-secure world for all.

The FAO Partnership Awards serve as a platform to showcase successful initiatives and contributors, making FAO more valuable to its Members, more engaging to partners, and more meaningful to the people it serves – the world’s farmers and consumers.

With less than six years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, now is the time to share experiences and knowledge, to identify the solutions needed for positive outcomes, and concrete ways for our collective action.

We must accelerate efforts to transform agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable, for the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life – leaving no one behind.

The encouraging news is that we possess both the tools and the knowledge to achieve these objectives, and to improve the livelihoods of all, especially the most vulnerable.

Partnerships serve as accelerators in realizing our common vision, making it a reality for all. 

However, no single organization, government, or institution can tackle hunger and poverty in isolation. Prioritizing partnerships is fundamental. We require multi-stakeholder solutions to address today's complex, interlinked challenges, which affect us all.  I always say we are all living on the same small planet – what affects one, affects all.

Today, we honor individuals and institutions who are already at the forefront of efforts to build a sustainable and food-secure world for everyone. They are the FAO Partnership Champions!

I wish to welcome the winners of the 2024 FAO Partnership Awards who have travelled from far to be here with us:

From the Republic of Korea, Ulsan's Deputy Mayor, Ahn Hyo Dae.

Since 2021, Ulsan's partnership with FAO has yielded notable impact, including financial support for FAO's Response Programmes in Ukraine and an innovative internship programme benefiting local students. This collaboration has enhanced Ulsan's visibility in capacity-building efforts and set a model for local government partnerships with FAO.

I would like also to welcome Dr Janny Vos, Partnerships Development Director from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

CABI collaborates with FAO in Southern Africa through initiatives like PlantwisePlus, providing practical advice to smallholder farmers through local clinics. This partnership has led to notable success in poverty reduction, particularly in Rwanda, and CABI's BioProtection Portal supports biological plant protection in 42 countries.

Congratulations to both partners for their commendable contributions to improving agricultural practices for better production, improving nutrition, supporting environmental sustainability, and improving livelihoods and the quality of life of those most in need.

Their efforts are pivotal in creating a better world and FAO looks forward to continuing working with you, and all partners, for people and the planet.

Thank you.