World Food Forum 2023 Closing Remarks

World Food Forum 2023

Closing Remarks

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General 

 20 October 2023 

 

Your Excellency Michael Higgins, President of Ireland

Excellencies

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

We have enjoyed a busy, happy and impactful week.

 

First of all, I would like to thank you, all of you. You made this historical event truly memorable.

 

I wish to thank all my colleagues and all the participants, no matter whether you are young or young-at-heart, for the real solidarity to help FAO, and help yourselves, to change the world and change global agrifood systems, together.

 

Thank you especially to the hardworking and passionate people, across generations, who brought this Forum to life.

 

Special thanks to the youth and Indigenous People for travelling from all over the world to make this week a reality – a truly heartful week.

 

My heartfelt appreciation for your passion, dedication, energy and for inspiring us to do more and better.

 

In just five days, we hosted over 200 events and over 5 000 participants in person, and more than 20 000 online, and many more through social media and our YouTube and other channels, TikTok, Facebook, WeChat, Instagram and WhatsApp.

 

Based on my colleagues’ estimates there has been an increase of 2.5 million views on the FAO website over only four days. 

 

While on key social media platforms, the World Food Forum Week products have reached 2.7 billion accounts – with an increase of 300 million views on social media platforms.

 

I am so happy that we can speak in billions, after just four years.

 

My real appreciation goes to Maximo Torero, Ismahane Elouafi, Laurent Thomas, Beth Bechdol, Godfrey Magwenzi, Maria Helena Semedo, Maurizio Martina, and other colleagues – we have worked together over the past four years and made the physical, mental and accessibility changes needed at FAO.

 

Through the new Digital FAO, through the reform, recovery and rebuilding, all aimed at the renaissance of FAO, for you, for the farmers, for the people and for the consumers.

 

So much has been achieved this week.

 

We showed the world:

 

ONE: The importance of the active engagement of the youth in all global processes, for a truly inclusive decision-making process, to build a better future for all.

 

TWO: The importance of partnership, collaboration and solidarity. Bringing ALL partners from across the spectrum together – not only to discuss, but to walk the talk and take joint, concrete actions going forward.

 

And THREE: We heard from everyone, across all events, from all partners, on the importance of leveraging the power of science and innovation, and investments.

 

This is the only way we can accelerate bold and actionable solutions to catalyze the transformation of global agrifood systems.

 

We need strategic and targeted investments to take sustainable climate actions for the transformation we need.

 

In the Global Youth Forum we saw:

 

ONE: Young people’s passion and care for agrifood systems and their seriousness and dedication to climate action.

 

TWO: A strong commitment to inclusivity with youth, Indigenous Peoples, women and people in vulnerable situations.

 

And THREE: We saw game-changing research and innovation in action in the Transformative Research Challenge and Startup Innovation Awards.

 

In the Science and Innovation Forum we explored innovations and cutting-edge science on advancing climate solutions, which included among others:

 

ONE: actionable ideas on making the most appropriate climate technologies, innovative practices, and traditional and Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge in agrifood systems available, accessible and affordable to all.

 

TWO: we organized almost 20 sessions spanning a range of topics covering new and unexplored frontiers in science and innovation.

 

And THREE: we discussed how science, technology and innovation can help in building resilience to risks, addressing and assessing loss and damage, and improving soil and water management.

 

The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum offered many opportunities for investment by:

 

ONE: showcasing synergies for the implementations of the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy, and the Climate Change Strategy, with the needed investment.

 

TWO: integrating science and evidence in decision-making, by strengthening the science-policy-interface.

 

And THREE: expanding FAO’s partnerships and collaboration with prominent innovators.

 

Dear Friends,

 

All our activities this week involved multidisciplinary perspectives and took into account the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and small-scale farmers and producers. 

 

But these innovations and solutions need resources and investments for their advancement, realization and implementation.

 

This is why the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum builds on the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative.

 

Last year, we hosted 20 countries that presented their investment plans, and we had USD 2.4 billion committed.

 

This year, we had over 31 countries and two Regional Initiatives that presented their investment plans and opportunities.

 

With 110 investments, designed for over 149 million beneficiaries, presented in total.

 

Those pitches will showcase more than USD 15 billion of detailed agrifood investment opportunities.

 

And many new partnerships – and friendships - have been formed.

 

This week has shown us what is possible to achieve, if we achieve it together.

 

For example, to show how FAO turns words into actions – how we walk the talk – this week we undertook a corporate responsibility to tackle food waste and we implemented a food waste monitoring system in the canteens and food trucks here on FAO premises.

 

During your meals, you will have seen this simple system that can be replicated in your countries.

 

We produced a total of 792 kg at pre-consumer level, and 172 kg at consumer level during the entire World Food Forum Week. For a total of 964 kg of leftover food waste from our plates and kitchens, which includes both edible and inedible items. 

 

Per person, if we consider only our plate of leftovers, our waste amounts to 14 grams per customer.

 

Beyond this week, we will continue working with our caterers to identify strategies for even more food waste reduction.

 

Globally, tackling food waste is critical to achieve the SDGs.

 

Dear Friends,

 

This week strengthened our commitment to cross-generational and cross-sectoral collaboration, innovation, and investment to transform global agrifood systems.

 

The new FAO Office for Youth and Women will support and boost all these initiatives, and work closely with the World Food Forum.

 

Now, we need to bring these discussions, momentum and inspiration to other important international and national fora, and our local communities.

 

This is how the movement can spread throughout the world.

 

Thank you for coming to FAO headquarters in Rome and thank you to those who were connected online from all over the world.

 

We look forward to welcoming you again next year for the 4^th World Food Forum 2024!

 

Thank you.