Borlaug World Food Prize Address

Borlaug World Food Prize

Address

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

24 October 2023

 

Ambassador Terry Branstad, President of the World Food Prize Foundation

The Honourable Tom Vilsack, Secretary for Agriculture of the United States

Dr Wendy Wintersteen, President of Iowa State University

Distinguished Guests,

Dear Young Friends,

Dear Young-at-Heart Friends

Dear Colleagues,

 

I am pleased to have been invited by my old friend Ambassador Branstad to address you today and to discuss the life essential matter of food and agriculture.

 

We are here to reaffirm our commitment to work together to bring food and agricultural solutions to the scale needed to increase the quality, quantity, availability, affordability, and accessibility of food for all.

 

During my 40 years career I have always prioritized youth as the most important agents of change, and the World Food Prize Foundation is one of the most important global fora that encourages aspiring global leaders to spearhead agrifood systems transformation.

 

Last week at FAO we held the third edition of the World Food Forum, a hybrid event held at FAO headquarters with over 5000 in person participants, and more than 20 000 connected virtually.

 

In just five days we hosted over 200 events. We reached 2.7 billion accounts (an increase of 300 million!) on social media platforms, and an increase of 2.5 million views on the FAO website.

 

The Global Youth is one of the three pillars of the World Food Forum because at FAO we recognize that the youth have the energy, the passion and the ingenuity for “Harnessing Change” – which is your theme today as well.

 

“Harnessing Change” is a call from action to evolution.

 

Dr Norman Borlaug and the World Food Prize Foundation inspire us and recognize all those who have harnessed the change needed for a more food secure world – a world without hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

 

He was a scientist, and the father of the Green Revolution, which revolutionized agricultural production with new genetic materials that substantially improved food security around the globe, saving millions from starvation.

 

I am proud to say that Dr Borlaug and I share similar origins, both being sons of farmers.

 

We both spent our formative years working on our parent’s farms. He grew up on a 43-hectare farm in Iowa, I was the son of a rice grower on a small farm in the Hunan Province in China.

 

And more importantly, we both realized from an early age that agriculture could save the world because it was the key to feeding the world and elevating people out of poverty.

 

In the same way as it inspired Dr Borlaug, it has also been my guiding principle throughout my extensive studies and my work over more than 40 years.

 

I had the privilege of crossing paths with Dr Borlaug on several occasions, including through his work with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). In fact, the last time I met with Dr Borlaug was at CIMMYT in 2006 – and I cherish the photo I have with him of this important moment for me.

 

Dr Borlaug also had a special relationship with key Chinese scientists. I learnt that several senior professors at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China were alumni of Dr Borlaug in Minnesota. And in 2004 I had the honour to organize the translation of Dr Borlaug’s biography in Chinese.

 

Furthermore, Dr Borlaug's work with wheat contributed to the development of high-yield semi-dwarf indica and japonica rice cultivars at the International Rice Research Institute and China's Hunan Rice Research Institute.

 

The principles that underline Dr Borlaug’s luminary work in the field of food and agriculture, were the same that guided world leaders to establish the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 80 years ago.

 

On 16 October 1945, FAO was established in Quebec, Canada, following two years of by the Interim Commission, formed by President Roosevelt's United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture in Hot Springs, Virginia, on 19 May to 3 June 1943, had matured into the first United Nations Specialized Agency.

 

The first World Food Day Ceremony to mark the establishment of FAO was held on 16 October 1981 in Rome and has been celebrated every year since then around the world.

 

We last week celebrated this year’s World Food Day event in Rome with the important theme of “'Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind', to highlight the critical role of water for life on earth and water as the foundation of our food.

 

I know that here in Iowa, and in Minnesota, "World Food Day" on October 16 is referred to as "Norman Borlaug World Food Prize Day" – this is a befitting title.

 

Dear Friends,

 

Today, we have a new and dynamic FAO, well-positioned to better serve its Members and above all the farmers of the world.

 

A more agile, more efficient, more fit-for-purpose United Nations specialized agency providing professional and scientific expertise to all.

 

In line with our Strategic Framework 2022-31, we have laid out a strong foundation to anchor our work, including through new thematic strategies on Private Sector Engagement; on Science and Innovation; on Climate Change; and on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors.

 

We have a new flat, modular and flexible organizational structure that ensure we respond efficiently and effectively to new challenges.

 

New offices and divisions have been established to ensure and even stronger focus on achieving the SDGs, on Innovation, on Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

 

We have strengthened our work on emergencies with heightened responsibility on emergency leadership, and a new mandate that includes resilience.

 

And we have further consolidated our work on climate change, biodiversity and the environment for cross-sectoral coordination, increasing FAO’s voice and technical capacity in addressing the impacts of the climate crisis.

 

We have strengthened the FAO Investment Centre and repositioned it on the international funding stage.

 

We have upgraded and strengthened our strategic partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency on the application of nuclear science and techniques in the field of sustainable agricultural development and food security.

 

The new and fit-for-purpose FAO – under the banner of ONE UN – is now working with excellence in the fight against hunger, poverty, and inequality, with increased transparency, the latest innovation, broader inclusiveness and a new business model.

 

The overarching aspiration of the Four Betters - Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life - guides our work to effectively support Members in achieving all the SDGs.

 

A new thinking at FAO has led us to a different path. We continue to leverage our collective expertise to help vulnerable populations and stand united to achieve real progress.

 

Our focus is to attain zero hunger, and to ensure that the world’s farmers are well supported, and rural areas are made more attractive for the younger generations.

 

Dear Friends,

 

To support our work, since taking office in 2019 I have set up flagship initiatives to provide the tools we need for implementation on the ground.

 

These initiatives include the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to consolidate strengths from diverse sources and identify and scale up interventions and investment.

 

And the linked FAO Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform provides advanced information, indicators and statistics, as global public goods to help countries identify their comparative advantage.

 

The Geospatial Platform received an award of excellence at the Geospatial World Forum in 2022, recognized as the best collaborative platform towards data-driven agriculture.

 

FAO’s new “1000 Digital Villages” Initiative supports the dissemination and enhanced use of digital tools in rural areas, enabling farmers to use digital technologies to improve lives and livelihoods.

 

The “One Country One Priority Product” Initiative supports countries to leverage the unique potential of their special agricultural products to strengthen their comparative advantage.

 

And the Green Cities Initiative supports urban transformation and a green economy to ensure food security for urban areas.

 

With the new reformed FAO resource mobilization is at an historical high with over

 

USD 2.1 billion in voluntary contributions mobilized in 2022 – a 61% increase over the five-year average.

 

This is a true reflection of the new confidence and trust Members have placed in the new FAO and on our capacity to achieve even more than before, especially in the face of unprecedented global challenges.

 

Members know they can count on FAO because FAO is now fit to walk the talk!

 

Dear Friends,

 

The new, cutting-edge FAO recognizes the need for innovation breakthroughs to successfully transform global agrifood systems,

 

And to produce more and better, with LESS, to feed the world and to provide access to healthy food.

 

We need breakthroughs to reduce inequalities, for gender parity and to provide opportunities for the youth in the agricultural sector.

 

One of these Breakthroughs is the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative by the United States that seeks to support African governments, farmers, agricultural researchers, and civil society organizations as they prepare the continent’s agrifood systems for the challenges posed by the climate crisis.

 

The initiative will identify the most nutritious crops across the African subregions, assess expected challenges and seek to boost public and private investments for effective adaption.

 

This is science in action – and this is the action that FAO supports.

 

Dear Friends,

 

The world needs FAO more than ever before to play an even greater role in supporting the transformation of global agrifood systems to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in safeguarding global food security.

 

Protracted conflicts, wars, economic downturns, and the impacts of the climate crisis all negatively affect the global economy and contribute to the further deterioration of global food security.

 

These complex and often overlapping challenges have pushed food, feed, fibre, fuel and energy prices sharply up, as well as prices of energy-intensive products like fertilizers.

 

These shocks came on top of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Looking to the future, collective actions are necessary to meet both immediate and longer-term objectives.

 

For FAO, there are 5 key actions that need to be addressed if we are to meet these objectives, and which FAO is committed to supporting in line with our mandate and the  UN specialized agency for food and agriculture.

 

First: All countries must commit to well-functioning markets and market transparency.

 

Trade continues to be key for global food security, and FAO is committed to market transparency and to ensuring international trade is kept open and smooth.

 

Second: Vulnerable countries need support to meet their food and fertilizer needs.

 

I have personally advocated with International Financial Institutions, and other important multilateral and international fora to support the most vulnerable to finance their food imports despite soaring import costs.

 

Third: We must accelerate the transformation of global agrifood systems.

 

The right investments are needed now, and urgently, for effective transformation of agrifood systems so that they are more resilient to deal with the current crisis and build resilience to future crises.

 

This also means strengthening the provision of public goods, such as by improving the availability of soil maps, extension, and advisory services, investing in research, and improving infrastructure in rural areas – and FAO is well positioned to provide the expertise needed in all these areas, and beyond. 

 

Fourth: We must engage the private sector, which is a key actor for the transformation we need, yet still remains under-engaged and under-utilized.

 

In this regard, FAO has increased engagement with the private sector, in line with our new strategy on private sector engagement, especially to facilitate the participation of smallholder farmers in sustainable value chains,

 

And to ensure an enabling policy environment for private sector investment in agrifood systems.

 

Fifth: We must fill our knowledge gaps.

 

Advancing our science and innovation and good understanding of the challenges that lie ahead is essential to end hunger.

 

Our agrifood systems must be transformed to enable them to produce more with less thereby making healthy diets and good foods affordable for all.,

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

Peace is a pre-requisite for food security.

 

Worldwide, conflicts are reversing prosperity. There is less food security, less health security, less income, and greater inequality.

 

We must ensure peace and prosperity for people and the planet, and my message today is clear: agriculture is one of the keys to lasting peace and security.

 

FAO has stepped up its efforts to strengthen agrifood systems, save lives and protect the agricultural livelihoods of the world’s most vulnerable.

 

From our cutting-edge analysis and normative work, our global and national policy guidance, and our life-saving aid, FAO helps people, communities, and governments cope with growing uncertainty.

 

Yet, more needs to be done together.

 

We must strengthen the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.

 

We must analyze the root causes of acute food insecurity, including conflict and climate change, and apply these learnings to our actions.

 

This year’s World Food Prize awardee is recognized for her work to revitalize farmland, food security, livelihoods and resilience after devastating conflict, specifically in the area of de-mining,

 

Her work demonstrates that agriculture must be part of the humanitarian response.

 

And FAO is committed to supporting agrifood systems to ensure rural development and assist vulnerable populations worldwide.

 

Dear Friends,

 

The United States is a key partner for FAO, and we must continue to work together, even closer, and stronger than before, and with all relevant partners, especially the private sector, to achieve global food security.

 

I look forward to continuing counting on the government and people of the United States to:

• Provide the necessary aid for food insecurity globally; 
• Allocate new resources to sustain agricultural production in challenging contexts; and
• Continue to recognize and support the role of agriculture in food security and peace.

 

Based on my professional knowledge and experience, I know that we can feed the world sufficiently and sustainably with existing tools, if we all play our part.

 

On 1943, when our predecessors convened the first UN Conference on Food and Agriculture in Hot Springs, Virginia, they saw that FAO could and should play a vital role.

 

They wrote: “the Food and Agriculture Organization is born out of the need for peace as well as the need for freedom from want. The two are interdependent. Progress toward freedom from want is essential to lasting peace."

 

Much has changed since then – but one thing remains constant: the world needs enough food, good food, and better foods – for all.

 

Investing in our agrifood systems is more relevant than ever.

 

At FAO we have visionary strategies in place, but we need more resources, especially from voluntary contributions.

 

This is where the challenge lies, and where the potentials are – and this is where the private sector can play a critical role. 

 

Resource mobilization is no longer simply transactional for FAO. We look to build lasting partnerships with donors; further leverage strategic partnerships and accelerate the establishment of transformative partnerships with both the private and the public sector.

 

Dear Friends,

 

Dr Borlaug was a great visionary and 20 years ago had already stated that "we will have to double the world food supply by 2050."

 

Today, more than ever, his words ring true.

 

And remain the foundation of FAO’s noble mandate.

 

At FAO we are committed to continue this legacy for a better food future for all, especially for the generations to come.

 

And we count on the youth to carry that legacy forward - for people, planet, and prosperity.

 

Thank you.