Bilateral meeting with H.E. Carlos Giménez, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Paraguay

Rome - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met H.E. Carlos Giménez, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Paraguay on the sidelines of the World Food Forum 2024 at FAO headquarters in Rome.

The Director-General welcomed the Minister to the World Food Forum and recalled his previous meeting with President Santiago Peña in Rome in November 2013. He acknowledged Paraguay's unique position as a landlocked country in Latin America and, more importantly, its significant contribution to global food security.

Minister Giménez expressed his gratitude to the FAO Director-General and emphasized the pivotal role of livestock in Paraguay's economy, highlighting the challenges posed by the volatile international market. Minister Giménez voiced his aspiration for Paraguay to gain access to new markets for its meat products and make strides in sustainable livestock production. He emphasized the importance of focusing on breeding, animal feed, health, and disease prevention.

The Director-General underscored the need for more systematic improvements in grassland management to enhance meat quality and diversify product offerings for global markets. He also drew attention to Paraguay's promising potential in aquaculture, given its abundant natural resources, and reaffirmed FAO's commitment to providing technical expertise in this area.

The pair engaged in a productive discussion on the critical importance of enhancing production and productivity through improved access to inputs, technologies, and innovations to drive the necessary transformation in Paraguay's agricultural and sector.