One Health Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting Session 1: Opening Remarks

One Health Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting

Session 1:

Opening Remarks

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

27 March 2023 (9:00 - 9:30)

 

My esteemed fellow Quadripartite Principals, and friends – Tedros, Monique and Inger,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to be here today, and I wish to especially thank my colleague Dr Tedros for hosting this first in-person executive annual meeting of the Quadripartite. I also wish to acknowledge the World Health Organization for leading and coordinating the work of the Quadripartite Secretariats' this year, at global, regional, and country levels.

I am very pleased with our joint collaboration, actions and outcomes.

Our collective work in advancing the One Health approach on the global arena, such as at the COP 27 in Egypt and the COP 15 in Montreal, and the 3^rd Ministerial Meeting on AMR in Oman, was fruitful!

We have put the spotlight on the Quadripartite's joint commitment, raised awareness and advocated for One Health with a unified voice around the world.

One Health is also high on the agenda of the G7 and G20, highlighting the need for multi-stakeholder solutions to today’s complex, interconnected challenges, which impact everyone.

As I always say, we are all neighbors on this small planet called earth, what affects one of us affects all of us!

At FAO, in line with our mandate – and in complementarity with the mandates of the Quadripartite – we promote One Health for agrifood systems transformation, for global health security and for contributing to healthy people, healthy animals, healthy plants and a healthy environment,

And we do this by supporting implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action.

Furthermore, as part of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, our One Health Programme Priority Area aims to enhance productivity, and reduce risks from biological threats, applying integrated pest and biosecurity management approaches in countries,

For more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, in a changing climate and environment.

FAO is committed to support the mainstreaming of One Health by generating, exchanging and enhancing knowledge and evidence – all of which are critical elements of FAO’s new Science and Innovation Strategy recently endorsed by Members.

In this context, I wish to recognize the important scientific advice provided by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel, and look forward to wider engagement and enhanced innovations.

Under FAO's Chair, the Quadripartite developed a Guide for UN Resident Coordinators and Country Teams to include One Health in their national frameworks, and support implementation on the One Health Joint Plan of Action at national level.

And the One Health Intelligence Scoping study for better early warning of threats to global health is another prime example of excellent collaboration.

One Health is already contributing to more sustainable agrifood systems.

By increasing productivity and reducing resource use per unit of output through improved animal and plant health,

And by ensuring a stable food supply leading to increased food and nutrition security due to healthier livestock and crops.

Better animal health means a lower risk of zoonotic diseases, and greater food safety across value chains reduces the burden of foodborne diseases and improves food quality.

FAO has long advocated for One Health, including by supporting the effective management of zoonotic diseases and AMR across agrifood systems, and by encouraging research and innovation.

At FAO we know that by applying a One Health approach for the transformation of global agrifood systems will ensure all the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, better environment and a better life,

Thereby ensuring that no one is left behind.

To progress One Health to the next level, the Quadripartite needs to work even more and better, together, galvanizing greater investment and targeted financing of One Health strategies and plans.

Now that our Joint Plan of Action is fully in motion, we need to focus our efforts at strengthening joint delivery at country level.

We need to implement a Quadripartite mechanism of cooperation at country level among all relevant ministries such as Agriculture, Health and Environment, among others.

We also need to communicate better with our Members on our joint offer as the Quadripartite.

For this, let me assure you that FAO is fully engaged.

Let us continue to work together for healthy people, healthy plants, healthy animals and a healthy planet, for our collective prosperity.

Thank you.