17th Meeting of the Leadership Council of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
20/05/2021
17th Meeting of the Leadership Council of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
Panel on “Land Use, Biodiversity and COP 15”
FAO Director-General, Dr. QU Dongyu
20 May 2021
As prepared
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Biodiversity is essential for food security and food diversity.
2. It underpins healthy and nutritious diets, improves rural livelihoods, and enhances the resilience of people and communities.
3. But Biodiversity is under increased pressure.
4. Climate change, pollution, changes in land and water use and unsustainable harvesting are among the drivers of biodiversity loss.
5. Global agriculture is increasingly based on a narrow range of crop and animal species.
6. And even within these species, genetic diversity is being lost.
7. For example, 29% of the world’s local livestock breeds are at risk of extinction.
8. These negative developments undermine the resilience of our agri-food systems and their ability to adapt to future changes.
9. We need urgent collective action to reverse these alarming trends.
10. With its new Strategic Framework for the next decade, FAO will continue to support Members in restoring, conserving and sustainably using biodiversity, as part of our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
11. FAO’s Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors together with its Action Plan set out the sustainable transformation of agri-food systems, to achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
12. We need to identify suitable entry points that will help us accelerate this transformation.
13. 13. First, appropriate policy interventions are vital. Priority should be given to encouraging stakeholders to safeguard biodiversity.
14. Small-scale producers, including indigenous people, need to be included, as they often have a wealth of knowledge on managing these resources sustainably.
15. Second, coordinated global responses are crucial. Mainstreaming biodiversity is a team effort by farmers, fishers, livestock keepers and foresters, as well as national authorities, international organizations and consumers.
16. FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is developing a global policy response to implement the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and to identify areas for partnership with multiple stakeholders.
17. Third, we need to unleash the power of innovation. This goes beyond technologies and also includes the innovation of business models, infrastructure, processes and minds.
18. Innovation brings about opportunities and is key to increasing the sustainable performance of the agriculture sector. It enables more precise and efficient work and reduces inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides.
Dear colleagues,
19. The world economy is starting to recover from the pandemic.
20. FAO is ready to join hands with you to promote better policies, inclusive partnerships and further innovation.
21. Together, we can transform our agri-food systems to become MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable - delivering healthy food and prosperity, in harmony with nature.
22. Thank you.