Seminar on Indigenous Peoples Amazon: New paths for the Church and for an integral ecology Opening Remarks

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Indigenous Friends,

Dear Colleagues,

I wish to welcome all our distinguished guests, especially from the Vatican.

I am pleased to host this important seminar at FAO headquarters.

The Pan-Amazon region is of fundamental importance for the whole world, for its biodiversity, its contribution to the fight against climate change and ensure food security and for its Indigenous Peoples, and beyond.

FAO has been working with Members and partners to strengthen the cooperation of food security-water security–biodiversity-conservation nexus in the coming COP30.

The Amazon is inhabited by 34 million people. Many of them are Indigenous Peoples that belong to about 420 Indigenous communities.

Guided by the FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, the Organization is committed to working with Indigenous Peoples, in full respect of their rights, and for the preservation, strengthening and promotion of their food and indigenous knowledge systems, which are critical for the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

FAO considers Indigenous Peoples as one of the key partners in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

At the same time, however, and despite great efforts, Indigenous Peoples continue to have a higher percentage of the food insecure population compared to the rest.

Our work with Indigenous Peoples in the Pan-Amazon Region is helping to enhance sustainability, food security, climate action and biodiversity conservation, including through the Indigenous Peoples’ Bio-centric Restoration Initiative, which recognizes Indigenous Peoples as custodians of biodiversity and in situ protection.

FAO developed this approach together with Indigenous representatives, to restore degraded ecosystems through Indigenous People-led processes that are rooted in their cultures.

The initiative puts Indigenous Peoples’ food and knowledge systems at the centre of global efforts and strengthens their territorial management practices. 

In the Pan-Amazon region FAO is supporting such initiatives in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil.

Dear Friends,

FAO recognizes the fundamental role of Indigenous Youth in the fight against hunger.

In October 2023, FAO co-organized the 2nd Session of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Forum, right here on the FAO premises, which brought together 186 Indigenous Youth from 54 countries and 98 different groups to discuss the future of their food and knowledge systems.

Indigenous Youth delegates made their voices heard on programmes they are leading in their regions to preserve biodiversity, mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, and preserve their knowledge systems and food cultures.

The outcome “Rome Declaration on Safeguarding Future Generations in times of Food, Social and Ecological Crisis” addresses themes such as the protection of indigenous plant genetic resources and best traditional practices, and the importance of Indigenous-led education.

FAO is committed to continue working with Indigenous Youth and listening to their recommendations.

Today’s Seminar provides an important opportunity to better understand the different voices, lessons learned and perspectives from Indigenous Peoples on how to work better, together, towards achieving the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.

Over the past five years since taking office as FAO Director-General, I have really appreciated the close collaboration with the Holy See, with the support of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

I recall our collaboration as signatories to the Rome Call for AI Ethics in 2019, which reflects our shared vision of the importance of cutting-edge technology, and the support of the Holy Father to the mission of FAO and to our mandate.

I wish to convey my deepest appreciation for this support, which underlines our common belief that the right to food is a basic human right, and we need to work together to use all the resources available to spearhead action.

Let us not forget, we are all Indigenous Peoples on this small planet. As our ancestors always said, we are still so young on this planet, so let us continue to work together as one planet so that we can truly call it our common home, together.

Thank you.