170th Session of the Council Closing Remarks
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
17/06/2022
170th Session of the Council
Closing Remarks
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
17 June 2022
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. At the opening of this Council session on Monday morning, I conveyed appreciation to FAO Employees and to Members for the EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS made during the first six months of this year.
2. During this week, I have continued to see your EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT to the work of your Organization to address global challenges, in line with FAO’s mandate.
3. You have walked the talk!
4. I also wish to congratulate the Independent Chairperson of the Council, Hans Hoogeveen, for his effective and inclusive management.
Dear Members of the Council,
5. This week, you have endorsed two key thematic strategies, on Climate Change, and on Science and Innovation,
6. Which will guide us in supporting Members to address the impacts of the climate crisis and to ensure that all actors, especially small-scale farmers, have access to the best available science, technologies and innovation,
7. For the transformation of our agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.
8. You have also endorsed the PIR 2020-21, which further demonstrates how together, in spite of the challenging context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we delivered on FAO’s mandate efficiently and effectively during very difficult times.
9. Together, we will continue to address the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, of climate change and of global conflicts with emergencies, on global food security and agriculture.
10. The outcomes of this Council Session have further contributed to consolidating ownership of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31;
11. They will take us a step further towards speeding up transformation of our agrifood systems and realizing the Four Betters to achieve 2030 agenda.
Dear Colleagues,
12. The guidance and recommendations provided by this Council are well received and I stand ready, together with my Core Leadership, senior managers and their teams, to move forward.
13. The current global food security situation calls upon us to act now – there is no time to waste!
14. As I have continuously said during my past months as FAO DG, my door is always open and I look forward to constructive dialogues and increased collaboration with all of you.
15. Let us continue to work together in stronger partnership to overcome these EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES for people, planet, and prosperity. Let us do more and better!
16. I thank you.