UN Leaders Dialogue on the Progress and Future of Digital Cooperation Statement

Excellences,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be able to participate in this important platform to take stock of the achievements, challenges, and opportunities since the Geneva Plan of Action in 2003 proposed on 21 December 2001 by the then UN Secretary-General.

We cannot be just passive witnesses to history.

As leaders, we are all active participants, and it is our duty to reflect on the past and progress made till now, and to continue contributing effectively and coherently to shaping the course of our collective future. 

For the benefit of the whole international community we are dedicated to serving, especially those most in need. 

The UN has a key catalytic role to play in leveraging the power of digital technologies for the achievement of the SDGs, and we must lead by example.

The Rome Call for AI Ethics was signed by FAO, IBM and MICROSOFT, along with the Holy See and endorsed by the Holy Father, in December 2019.

Digitalization is reshaping our world – at its very core – and is having a deep impact on our societies and economies, and our mindsets.

We must ensure that we continue to move forward with the fast-paced digital revolution – in spite of the negative effects over the past few years due to the emergence of new disruptive technologies - towards the transformation of our agrifood systems, to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable.

For the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

This is crucial for FAO's mandate and reflects our Organization's deep commitment to eradicate hunger and poverty globally. 

New emerging issues related to safe and ethical use of digital agriculture should be taken into consideration to ensure a holistic perspective, and an open, free, and secure digital future for all, as outlined by the Global Digital Compact and other key UN led initiatives, towards which we are working together. 

Since its beginning, FAO has recognized the crucial role of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in promoting global digital collaboration and collective action to harness the transformative potential of digital technologies for the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

Scaling up digital solutions can help in addressing the current crises by using new, high‑impact, digital-based and data driven solutions, including generative AI, which has the potential, if used in a safe and ethical way, to transform agriculture by improving efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.

To achieve these goals, FAO is committed to continue working closely with all of you for an efficient, effective, and coherent global digital ecosystem, and welcomes you to the 4th version of the FAO World Food Forum (WFF) in mid-October (14-20) at our Headquarters in Rome.

FAO is also committed to continue working through multilateral fora such as the UNSG’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, and the UN Principles for the Ethical Use of AI in the UN system, among others.

Our collective efforts across these platforms are leading us towards the Summit of the Future, and ensuring an inclusive, sustainable, and better future for all, leaving no one behind.

Thank you.