Joint Meeting of the Programme and Finance Committees Closing Remarks

Thank you, Chairpersons of FC and PC.

Good morning to all the Members and Colleagues, including the ICC.

The ICC, he is the ICC, a special observer for this Joint Meeting.

I know you played very happily, intensively, and constructively.

I always give the closing remarks even if I have been travelling during your play. I travelled to Slovenia to support the President of Slovenia to host the International Forum for Action on Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination, for people, prosperity, and peace.

Slovenia is historically important in these two years because it is now a non-permanent Member of the Security Council.

They really appreciate that opportunity to use bees as real diplomacy. I should congratulate them because I went there after 100 days. I actually designed that Forum together with the President of Slovenia. And they now have also a change in their slogan based on my suggestion, and they now have a new slogan.

You feel love inside of the country. Inside the word “Slovenia” there is “love”, L-O-V-E – sLOVEnia.

They are really listening to my suggestions, so I am happy to work with you no matter you are small, big, poor, or rich.

I said it publicly: “Slovenia is not small nor poor”, so you can do more together with FAO and others if they are willing to. If you are serious, I am more serious.

I then came back after six hours of driving to pay an official visit to San Marino. I do not know if some of you have visited San Marino. Especially people from Europe, maybe San Marino is too small or too far from you. From Rome to San Marino is another five hours driving.

I did that to save time. If I had visited from here, to Rome to San Marino, it would have taken at least three days. But on the way back, I only stayed 21 hours. That is efficient.

Of course you need good health. Be honest. I know my colleagues have been struggling. Godfrey can sleep in the car or van. But I could not. I always sleep at night on the bed. That is my habit when growing up in the countryside. We never slept on the ground or in the car because we never had a car at that time, not even a truck or a bicycle.

He is from the farm, so he had a truck, and he could sleep in the car, and he later became an ambassador so he could sleep in the car or van. I did not have that habit.

Once again, congratulations on your fruitful discussions this week. I am surprised about the Programme Committee. You finished so early. Are you serious?  Without so much debate?

We need your guidance professionally and individually. I always say that they are two Committees professionally and individually. Of course, you get influenced from your background, from your country, from your experience. It is understandable. No one grows up in a vacuum condition.

I always respect differences, but it should be professional and constructive.

That said, also the Chairwoman: You did very well during the past two years. It was not easy. At the beginning you faced the challenges with the war in Ukraine and now you face something happening by your country and together with others in the region. So even politically it is more challenging for you. I fully understand your situation, but I especially said it publicly the first time: “You have come along very well”. I should appreciate especially your professionalism, your constructivism and positivity.

You should also appreciate the other Members supporting you. That is FAO. That is what we want.

I always respect different opinions because based on the different opinions among the Members you can debate in a constructive way and in a professional way. And then you can agree something with disagree.

That is real internationalism. That is real multilateralism. That is real inclusivity.

And also, you have a position in yourself. You are not the decision maker. That is what the two Committees are. I said at the beginning: it is just your individual suggestions, professional consultation.

If you want it cross-border, of course, there are Members who will get you back on your own territory. That is your territory to play on.

I followed all the debates among yourselves. Some colleagues were worried. I said: “No, let them play”.

That is your role. At least, you already understand that it is pictures from not only two opinions, three or five, six. It is okay. And then let us build on more understanding for the upcoming decision-making governing body.

Also, the ICC is here. He is our observer. He cares about who said what.  So, he will, I hope, provide a balanced conclusion based on your debate in the coming Council.

The Council is what matters. That does not mean that you do not matter. You build the foundations for that. That is really appreciated.

I was pleased to see the positive response to a range of issues before you and your recommendations will provide important inputs to the discussions at the Council next month,

Including on FAO’s support to Members in helping them to fulfil the 2030 Agenda amid overlapping global crises, as reported in the 2022-23 PIR,

And on the work being done to strengthen the Country Office Network to increase and improve support to Members at the country level.

I had a very good and constructive, professional discussion with the Heads of State of San Marino, and not only with them. I really admired the professionality and the real diplomacy of San Marino. Now I understand why they can survive there, in the middle of Italy. You know, they even made the FAO flag to respect FAO.

Some countries just use the UN flag. Of course it is not wrong, but it is not proper. If the DG from FAO comes and you do not show the FAO flag after four years, not four months.

You are diplomats. I say I am not a diplomatic person, but I do care on behalf of FAO. Not on behalf of myself. But in Europe and others, lots of Members still did not produce the FAO flag. What is your identity if you do not have the FAO flag?

We are an independent UN Specialized Agency. We have our own Constitution; we have our own Basic Texts. Are you going to modify if we decide to modify the Basic Texts?

I am happy if after 10 years we need to revisit the Basic Texts, from the prefaces to each chapter. Maybe my colleagues from LEG can offer you a whole overall adjustment of the Basic Texts because it was made in 2017. They started in 2015. So next year if you want to have the overall adjustments of the Basics Texts, I am happy.

After 10 years. If you get a consensus. If you do not have a consensus, you can also start voting. Everything is possible, for me it is possible.

I have said it publicly, here, during the closing. Someone wants to change one small phrase or sentence? No, if we want to change it, we should go to the Basic Texts because 10 years ago it was completely different from now. When we started, we did not have the 2030 Agenda. We had it after 2015. 

Now it is 10 years later, at least we not only have a new strategy for work, new business model, new structure, and new transparency, so everything needs to be reflected in the FAO Basic Texts.

Please, consider it seriously, holistically, and professionally.

Ms Donata Rugarabamu (Legal Counsel), you have to be ready, and even if you are not, I will recommend in the next Council, a year later at the 2025 Ministerial Conference, to revisit the Basic Texts because now I get the sense. A lot of the members from CCLM, from the PC and FC, want to modify and adjust the Basic Texts, it is good. I did not say it in advance because I respect you first, but now I am ready, because next year we will celebrate FAO’s 80th anniversary, we need new Basic Texts for the future, at least for the next 10 years.

Please, Donata, I am sorry you will be working day and night again, that is one, and I got all your recommendations, three committees, but not fragile, we need a holistic way and a professional way to reflect the new progress and the new scenario and new development of the world situation, that is the FAO evolution.

In light of a very challenging global economic situation, you also noted the great efforts and continued strong performance in mobilizing voluntary contributions to deliver FAO’s mandate.

This sustained increase in funding is an ongoing and strong expression of confidence and trust in FAO.

Engaging and working with the private sector remains essential for achieving the SDGs and the Four Betters, and FAO’s informal Private Sector Advisory Group continues to be an important platform to strengthen meaningful partnerships.

Earlier this month we had the CEB in Santiago. We brainstormed for a long time on that. Still, in the UN system there are not so many Principals willing to take a step further on how to strengthen collaboration. At FAO we are not ahead, but we are not that behind, we are about in the middle, but still, we need to strengthen. We can learn from other organizations on how to strengthen cooperation with the private sector.

Because a lot of FAO Members who are here, and Council Members, ask management on how to strengthen. But first, Members, are you ready? Be honest, I have 30 to 40 years of experience in that, of course the national government is different from international organizations. But at least we have a lot of means and tools to work with the private sector.

I said several times when I visited Australia in 1999, I learned one thing: how to strengthen small crops like tomato breeding in the industry, because in Australia, only six farmers, sizable farmers, produce tomato. They do not have a national program on research innovation, but how did they do it? Through consultations with the industry and the private sector.

The government dropped AUD 1 million, and with another million dollars from private sector. So, it started as a small fund to support the research and innovation.

And more and more, the private sector benefitted from that innovation, so they were willing to increase match making fund.

They said: “ok, so we will increase every three years, so we will adjust”. If your research is not so it will decrease, and the government also decreased. It is also the push of research, industry, and the government, those three need to work together to improve efficiency, productivity, and of course better food, better nutrition, and a better environment.

I just said that the private sector is not the same as engagement with government. It depends on different areas, different topics, we can have some different arrangements. If we agree, if the Council makes a decision, we should go further. Only three years ago we adopted the FAO Strategy for Engagement with the Private Sector. Now, we need the action to follow and lead change.

Otherwise, no matter how rich, developed country, you are still less and less invested on agricultural innovation and technology, and the rural areas. We need to strengthen the private sector engagement and support, not only research and innovation, but also other areas.

I am also pleased that you recognized the important opportunities for us in expanding South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

And I still emphasize on Triangular.

Mr Hans Hoogeveen knows. When he was an ambassador here - Germany as well. He knew how to work together with China and support Africa. That is the real triangle, through FAO of course. Not only South-South, but now also global south Members also are willing to take ownership and partnership with South-South Members. I encourage all the northern Members, through this triangular arrangement, because you have your comparable advantages, and the global South also.

One FAO should also use mechanisms to work together to support the vulnerable countries, and the Members, and about 90 vulnerable Members: SIDS, LDCs, LLDCs.

Which has huge potential to be scaled-up and to bring donors together to better support countries in the transformation of their agrifood systems.

This week you also discussed the FAO Global Roadmap on achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5-degree threshold, recognizing the importance of jointly addressing the food security and nutrition agenda, together with energy and water, while promoting climate actions.

I was pleased to see the response of Members to the range of Evaluations covering important topics like water, Food Loss and Waste and cash vouchers presented this week.

The insights and recommendations from these evaluations support us to better deliver on FAO’s mandate.

Food loss and waste is a pressing challenge. As you can see from the evaluation, FAO would like to increase its technical and statistical capacity for improved policy and technical advice to countries and for better measurement of food loss and waste, especially for waste. Food waste has much more marginal utility, based on economic principles and laws, for which we would need additional resources and support from Members.

We really need someone to initiate that, starting from one small action, as I did last year by challenging, not encouraging, my colleagues from Logistic Services and also the Chief Economist.

Every year we celebrate the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, so let us walk the talk from our Headquarters first.

After about one year, 8 months actually, it is a big change if we go to the cafeteria. I think that at home we did not have the statistics. Compared to four years ago, all the FAO staff and the friends also led the change.

I wish to thank Members for the continuous support to FAO’s work on water. We are encouraged by the significant progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Evaluation of FAO’s contributions to SDG 6 and FAO’s work on water. 

FC/PC members here and also FAO Members in the past two years, technical people have been doing really well in the past years. As an organization, we need a professional and political commitment. That is also thanks to the support from the Members, and the Co-Chairperson of the UN Water Conference.

After 28 years the UN Headquarters brought the issue to this stage.

I thank the Co-Chairperson of the Royal Kingdom of the Netherlands and also the Republic of Tajikistan. They did very well, together with the UN Secretary-General.

I think that myself and colleagues, we seized this opportunity.

We seized this opportunity and also established a strategy, a roadmap and established the Rome Water Dialogue and others. That is many years of technical support.

It is like making boiling water. Maybe they reach 90℃ or 95℃, but at the end we need 5 degrees of energy and input to make real boiling water at 100 ℃. That is the progress we work on together.

I really appreciate the PC and FC during the past two years together with the Council and the Members. Not only you FC/PC members here, but all FAO Members, and my colleagues. 

This week has also been marked by the celebration of World Bee Day, World Tea Day and World Biodiversity Day. So, again we have so many days. If we use them properly it is a big impact no matter big or small. These days have recalled our attention to the key role of bees and pollinators, tea, and coffee.

You see, we started introducing coffee to FAO thanks to the Ambassador of Brazil and others. It is an opportunity for you. We wanted to increase because I respect it. Not only do I like drinking tea, I also like drinking coffee. You did not know since 40 years ago. That is why I am different from an ordinary Asian or Chinese.

Open yourself to enjoy other food and culture. Build yourself more international and more inclusive. That is my 40 years of life.

I appreciate tea and I appreciate coffee. I appreciated the beer when I was in the Netherlands, I drank beer quite a lot. I also appreciate wine and also Maotai, of course. Sometimes also vodka or Bols. In the Netherlands they have Bols - “BOLS”.

I still have one at home from when I graduated. It is my personal reserve. I bought the most expensive wine of Bols. It was 100 guilders. I found it quite expensive that time because I was a student. So, I still keep it at home in Beijing. I think you have also gin and some from the Latin America made with sugar cane, also Peruvian ones.

I think that is life and biodiversity. It is very important for research, for agricultural ministers or private sector. But the food diversity is the driving force. 

During this week I was in Slovenia, for the first-ever International Forum for Action on Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination under the theme 'Bees for People, Planet, and Peace,'

The Forum highlighted the need for humans – beekeepers – to work together with nature – pollinators – in our collective commitment to safeguard the vital role of bees in our agrifood systems and rural development.

And for the first time ever, I saw the beehive on the campus of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, if it were the Minister of Agriculture and Food, it would not have surprised me, but it was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Premier - she was so happy to cut the ribbon with me, to have a beehive on the campus.

That is a small investment; I do not know other Members, universities, or Chinese Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, we have a big campus in Beijing, but we never had a beehive. And in Brazil, I know you have a big campus of the Minister of Agriculture, but you did not have a beehive.

So, walk the talk.

Even though Slovenia is small. It is even smaller than one city of Brazil, but they take a leading role, you can imagine. I just mentioned that because I always say: if you really want to do something, change starts from small. That is a big, big impact.

And yesterday I was in San Marino; for you I never say a small country because my colleague prepared the talking points, I deleted all the “small, small”. I said again: “San Marino is not small”. We have other small islands. In population, they are not small; they are 36 000 people and 61 square kilometers – it is not small.

But more importantly, I think they have official diplomatic relationships with 156 members in the world and it is the first Republic in the world, much longer than Italy. That is really soft power. If you look at hard power, it is not so, but if you look at soft across the border, across the continent, then San Marino is one of the biggest nations.

They are serious about the Green City Initiative. They have an action plan on urban forestry plan, not just the initiative. They combined agrifood systems with tourism, environment, forestry and even the needs of government officials.

They have a water tanker underground – 870 cubic liters. I joke, but in case they are surrounded by the Italians, they can still survive for several months with enough water. If they did not tell me, I would have not realized because everything is stone.

They really take care of water security, food security, environment and also after the pandemic, their economy grew steadily there because they are small, but they are very diversified. Before I returned to Rome, on the way, I saw one of the best packaging materials for food in Europe or in the world. It is really modern and environmentally friendly because it is fully recycled. I was worried about the ink – how to recycle ink. Zero pollution! They showed me several big tanks on how to recycle. 

It is a small country, but they have one of the best technologies. They produce all these packaging materials for M&Ms. In Italy the most famous ones, Nutella. I am not a snack person, I do not eat snacks, but they say they are one of the best. I am not promoting that company. I am saying that the materials for the packaging come from this company.

I praised the government and people of San Marino for their steadfast attention to agricultural and environmental issues.

I was therefore pleased to see your re-affirmation of the need for FAO to continue its focus on biodiversity mainstreaming across agricultural sectors, and the need for adequate financial resources to be allocated for implementation of the Action Plan.

Again, we need your help!

This week, you were also presented with an update on the implementation of the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy, including its Action Plan, and synergies with the other thematic strategies, especially the FAO Strategy on Climate Change.

The Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Portal has a critical role in advancing scientific and technological innovation, and I was pleased to hear your support for this important tool, aligned with the Science and Innovation Strategy, and I agree with your call for even stronger partnerships if we want to make significant progress for the benefit of all.

Dear Colleagues,

Let us continue to work together in this spirit of collaboration and solidarity.

To agree with disagree, and to do something together. I have limited ambition, and it depends on your willingness. If you are serious, I am more serious. If you are not, I will wait and see.

I have enough patience, I said. Many years ago, I had a discussion with American friends from USDA. I said if you do not agree, I have enough patience, I grew up from 5000-year-old civilization countries. I was young. But now I am not young, but I still have patience.

Let us continue to focus on the mandate of FAO and, together, deliver the best service we can to the farmers and consumers of the world who rely on our technical expertise and guidance, especially policy consultations, data collection and analysis, information sharing,  platforms  and networking.

We can make FAO stronger, more impactful, and more deliverable with your support.

Thank you so much.