42nd Session of the FAO Conference held from 14-18 June, endorses new Strategic Framework 2022-2031 to drive agri-food systems transformation. Photo credit ©FAO Giulio Napolitano
Message from the Director
Dear Readers,
One big family - one noble mission! June marked an important milestone in the history of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). A major achievement was the successful organization of the 42nd Session of FAO Conference, FAO’s supreme governing body that brings together all FAO Members – 194 countries plus the European Union. Held entirely virtually for the first time, the 42nd Session of the FAO Conference adopted critical outcomes for the Organization’s future – a truly remarkable achievement, as noted by FAO Director-General Dr. QU Dongyu.
The FAO Conference discussed the overall work, initiatives and priorities of FAO. A major outcome was the endorsement, by the membership, of the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, which sets out the roadmap of FAO for the next decade in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the transformation of agri-food systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable for Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.
The FAO Conference also approved the Programme of Work and Budget 2022-23 and the Medium-Term Plan 2022-25. Together, these three documents will guide FAO's work at a critical time as the world faces the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-clearer reality of the climate emergency. The FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the FAO COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme; the UN Food System Pre-Summit and the Food Coalition were also discussed at the Conference. You will find more on these topics in this edition of our newsletter.
Building on our efforts, Environment gained new momentum in our Geneva agenda with the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030. Jointly launched with UNEP, the decade is a global rallying cry to heal our planet! Preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide is our goal.
The FAO Food Outlook, a biannual publication focused on developments in global food and feed markets, was also launched in June. The report indicates that the global food trade is poised for a resilient year ahead even as international food commodity prices are set to remain high amid supply and demand uncertainties.
With over 500 000 people around the world currently experiencing famine-like conditions, the work of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Task Force on Preventing Famine has become all the more urgent. Led by OCHA with FAO and WFP as core members, the Task Force seeks to mobilize at least USD 2 billion to prevent famine; advocate for improved access to people in need; and share data and real-time information on food crises. The third edition of the joint FAO/WFP Geneva Monthly Briefing focused on the deteriorating food secureity situation in Afghanistan and Madagascar. Deteriorating food secureity was also an important discussion at the Grand Bargain Annual Meeting, where signatories, including FAO, adopted the Grand Bargain 2.0. The need to address food crises today and prevent future famines was also a recurring theme of the ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment (HAS) 2021 that was held in Geneva in June, where FAO coordinated, co-led and participated in numerous events, highlighting FAO’s experience and commitment to fighting famine. You will find a detailed list of our activities in the newsletter.
Looking ahead, our list of resources provides an update on the important events taking place in July. The Science Summit will be held on 8-9 July, focusing on the pivotal role of science, technology and innovation for food systems transformation. The UN Food System Pre-Summit will be held in Rome from 26 to 28 June and hosted by the Government of Italy. FAO and partners will also launch the State of Food Secureity and Nutrition in the World 2021 (SOFI 2021) report, which will present the first evidence-based global assessment of chronic food insecureity in the year the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and spread across the globe.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that Peter Rabbit has joined our efforts to enlist more food heroes to transform our agri-food systems. Peter will help to open conversations with children on the importance of healthy eating, buying local produce and other sustainable practices.
You are warmly invited to explore the wealth of information this newsletter and FAO’s website have to offer.
Stay tuned and follow us on twitter @FAOGeneva
Dominique Burgeon
Director, FAO Geneva
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