177th Session of the FAO Council Opening Statement

Independent Chairperson of the Council,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues, 

Good morning.

In line with the governance cycle of FAO, this session of Council is the last session prior to the FAO Ministerial Conference at the end of June, which will be called upon to approve the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) for the 2026-27 biennium.

At this session, more than ever before, your discussions and suggestions will be instrumental for the deliberations by your Ministers and decision-makers as they need to ensure that the budget level they approve will enable the Organization to meet the increasing needs for our professional and technical support to Members for the transformation of global agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, and for the Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

As FAO Director-General, together with my Core Leadership Team, we have made every effort to ensure the Organization – YOUR Orgnaization – is fit-for-purpose and professionally able to help YOU tackle food security and malnutrition, in line with FAO’s mandate and in accordance with our Constitution and Basic Texts.

As we have started 4E1.0 in 2019 during my first term and now progress with additional “4 Rs” – Recover, Reform, Rebuild, Renaissance – we continue to focus all our efforts to achieve the transformation we need to address global challenges and turn them into opportunities for all, but we cannot do it alone.

It requires the collective will, effort, dedication and passion of all our Members, their leaders and governments, all our partners from across the spectrum, the FAO Leadership and all our employees around the globe.

We are all in this boat together.

As we enter the 5th year of implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, the Medium-Term Plan (MTP) 2026-29 and Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) 2026-27 present a results-driven roadmap for operationalizing our strategic vision.

Key to this is maximizing technical competencies and expertise in the core areas of work of the Organization and leveraging transformative partnerships to fully harness the resources, expertise and innovative potential available.

The Organization’s evidence-based, programmatic approaches remain agile and adaptable, allowing FAO to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities as they arise, with a focus on high-impact initiatives that maximize return on investment.

In the 2026-27 biennium, the significant ongoing review and implementation of strengthening the Country Offices to ensure a professional, modern, efficient and effective global network that provides the needed support to countries on the ground will further strengthen FAO’s global reach, working as ONE FAO.

FAO remains steadfast in its commitment to value for capital (hard and soft) resources and operational efficiency ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.

In preparing the budgetary proposal for 2026-27, alternative modalities for delivering the programme of work were considered, thereby reducing the number of budgeted posts mainly in Headquarters and regional offices, not country offices.

Underlining my strong commitment to efficiency and effectiveness, the proposed reductions safeguard core competencies, priorities and new emerging areas to protect delivery at the country level.

Through its recruitment processes, the Organization continues to ensure that all posts are filled competitively and merit-based, maximizing technical competence and expertise in its core areas and strengthening FAO's normative work, standard setting role, and policy influence.

FAO will continue to actively work to demonstrate clear value and results to Members, while diversifying funding sources, developing innovative financing mechanisms and pursuing excellency in all its aspects.

Dear Members,

You heard from the Chairperson of the Oversight Advisory Committee, who is a highly respected figure with a long career, at the recent session of the Finance Committee that FAO is doing impressive work and Senior Management is focused on achieving results with accountability.

The Committee also affirmed that these are challenging times for all organizations, but that FAO is well placed to address them head on, and that we are also particularly strong in terms of Management action with agile tactics.

This can be clearly seen with the onset of the evolving situation following recent decisions by the Government of the United States, of how FAO’s leadership has been properly handling it.

We swiftly implemented a structured, organization-wide review of our portfolio and programming, assessing each project individually.

With my clear guidance and holistic grouping design, this process has been centrally coordinated from FAO headquarters. All senior colleagues, working as one team coordinated by Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol and Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi, have taken proper actions to ensure a strategic and consistent approach.

Corporate guidance was rapidly developed to assist decentralized offices and budget holders managing 106 terminated projects, with a total value of USD 384 million affecting about 1240 employees; about 600 will be separated in due time.

This has required difficult decisions, with project personnel reduced to the minimum required for project closure.

The programmess most impacted address critical issues such as animal disease control, famine prevention, economic stability, and biosafety worldwide.

We continue to monitor the situation as it evolves, maintaining a corporate, consistent approach across all regions.

At the same time, we remain fully engaged in constructive dialogue with the Government of the United States, recognizing its vital role as a founding Member of this Organization.

While we acknowledge the gap left by the funding reductions, we remain committed to exploring solutions within our diversified resource mobilization strategy.

Even prior to the US Government Executive Stop Work Order, FAO had been strengthening its preparedness and anticipation plans to adapt to evolving financial conditions as global development funding is undergoing rapid changes due to bilateral partners reprioritizing aid in response to shifting national priorities, domestic fiscal pressures, debt, and inflation crises.

Despite these challenges, FAO continues to navigate this evolving landscape effectively, benefiting from a highly diversified partner base.

Funding from vertical funds, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Pandemic Fund, continues to grow, already well ahead of previous years.

However, as foreseen, our overall voluntary contributions for the first three months of this year are noticeably below the previous three record-setting years. 

We are closely monitoring these trends, evaluating our pipeline and considering different scenarios to understand impact on our programming.

I strongly encouraged YOU to take care of your baby (the Organization) where the danger is really approaching.

In June 2024, we launched the FAO Transparency Portal and Project Dashboard, marking a major milestone in data accessibility and accountability. The Portal offers detailed, real-time insights into funding flows, resource allocation, and project implementation, setting a new standard for transparency and data-driven decision-making.

Dear Colleagues,

The drivers of acute hunger - natural disasters, man-made disasters, economic downturns - show no signs of easing in 2025.

In February, I met in Geneva with the heads of humanitarian agencies and NGOs during a day-long meeting of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Principals. We discussed how to ensure the most vulnerable receive urgent support, particularly in places like Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

FAO’s unique role in providing emergency agricultural assistance helps communities exit hunger by local production to supply local foods more effectively.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic, with nearly the entire population experiencing severe food insecurity, categorized as IPC Phase 3 or higher. Food prices have skyrocketed, and extensive damage to agrifood infrastructure heightens the risk of famine, especially as the conflict continues and humanitarian access remains limited.

To aid recovery and safeguard remaining agricultural livelihoods, FAO has intensified its emergency efforts across the Gaza Strip. This includes providing animal feed and veterinary kits, as well as conducting assessments of damage to croplands, livestock, and fisheries in partnership with international organizations and the Palestinian authorities.

Sudan continues to slide into a widening famine crisis, marked by widespread starvation and a significant surge in acute malnutrition. FAO will continue to implement agricultural response activities at scale, and as resources and access allow.

In 2024, despite logistical challenges and security constraints, FAO and its partners distributed over 5 200 tonnes of seeds in 11 states, reaching over 546 000 households, equivalent to 2.7 million people. Recently the European Union and China have increased supports to Sudan through the FAO Office.

Over the past six months, a worsening food crisis has been gripping the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict, economic instability and rising food prices have put millions at risk.

New data from the latest IPC analysis of March reveals the highest number ever recorded of acutely food insecure populations in the country - 28 million people are now facing acute hunger (IPC Phase 3 and above), a number that has grown by 2.5 million since the most recent outbreak of violence in December 2024.

FAO’s emergency response prioritizes agriculture as a cornerstone of humanitarian aid, helping vulnerable households address acute food insecurity and malnutrition. By restoring agricultural livelihoods, FAO aims to empower communities to meet their own needs and lay the foundations for resilience.

The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to disrupt agricultural production in the country, exacerbating food insecurity, especially in conflict-affected areas.

Through our Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for 2025-26, we will continue to support the Government of Ukraine in mitigating the war's adverse impacts, particularly among rural communities in frontline areas. The plan employs a multifaceted approach to ensure timely assistance, while preventing dependency and fostering the integration of small farmers into key value chains.

Dear Colleagues,

Continuing to build transformative partnerships with non-state actors, including academia, research institutes, civil society and the private sector, as well as across the UN system, remains a priority.   

Our engagement with the Private Sector underlines FAO’s commitment to a strong, consolidated approach to partnerships and this year we will also update our Private Sector Engagement Strategy to guide FAO’s vision for the next five years.  

FAO continues to be a valued partner in multilateral fora. At the First Meeting of the G20 Foreign Ministers held in Johannesburg in February, I commended South Africa’s Presidency for prioritizing solidarity, equality and sustainability, and highlighted that food security is vital for peace, stability and human dignity.

I also reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, launched under the Brazilian G20 Presidency, which provides a coordinated mechanism to combat hunger and inequality.

And at the BOAO Forum for Asia Annual Conference at the end of March in China, I presented a multi-layered vision for the transformation of agrifood systems and underlined their immense economic and social significance, especially for the world’s poorest and youngest populations.

Ensuring strategic alignment between Decentralized Offices and headquarters is key in keeping our country-level work responsive, coordinated, and impactful.

The 2nd Global Working Conference of FAO Representatives, held in Bangkok last December, not only reaffirmed our commitment to working as ONE FAO, but more importantly it strengthened this effort further, providing an opportunity for networking deeper engagement and alignment across the Organization.

I recognize FAO Representatives as the backbone of our country operations. The role they play is critical in translating FAO’s global and country level priorities into tangible actions.

The Global Working Conference continues to serve as a key instrument to work together, share together, and contribute together, ensuring that they are well equipped to seize opportunities and navigate persisting and emerging challenges.

Dear Colleagues,

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is one of the FAO mechanisms helping implement the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The 20th Regular Session of the Commission was held in March and covered critical issues from access and benefit-sharing to the global and national implementation of the Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. It also explored ways that FAO could further support efforts on pollinators, biocontrol agents, and several other topics that are essential for the transition towards sustainable agrifood systems.

FAO continues to work closely with the Presidency of Brazil to highlight agrifood systems at the COP 30 to be held in Belem, Brazil, in November this year.

This includes:

One: integrating agriculture and food security in the official negotiations, including on adaptation and finance;

Two: supporting the COP Presidency with its Action Agenda on agrifood systems and forests; and

Three: supporting multistakeholder engagement on agrifood system including through the FAST Partnership to promote climate action and investment through agrifood systems.

Investments are crucial to helping countries shape the plans and policies needed for efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

In this regard, FAO plays a central role in accelerating countries’ access to climate finance. We recently launched the 100th project in the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness portfolio, which has doubled in the past five years.

In March we hosted the global meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Food Systems Integrated Programme, led by FAO and IFAD, that is helping 32 countries demonstrate climate and environment action through agriculture sectors and value chains, including livestock, rice, and cacao. 

The 3rd UN Oceans Conference will take place in France in early June 2025, for which FAO has been actively engaged in the preparations.

In February, FAO and the Government of the Solomon Islands and the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean hosted the Honiara Summit on Fisheries Sustainability, to bring a unified voice to the UN Ocean Conference, aligned with the FAO Blue Transformation agenda, and to actively support Members in the Pacific, and beyond. 

During the Oceans Conference, FAO will launch the 2025 Review of World Marine Fishery Resources, which is the most comprehensive and participatory evaluation ever conducted on the state of the world’s stocks, involving 670 experts from over 90 countries and 200 entities, covering around 2600 fish stocks.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries -Nansen Programme, a longstanding partnership between FAO and Norway, and a successful example of global collaboration on science, fisheries management and capacity development.

The Programme has collaborated with 58 countries across Africa, Asia and South America, training countless experts who now pave the way for sustainable fisheries management in their own countries. 

At the International Soil and Water Forum, co-hosted by FAO and the Kingdom of Thailand in December 2024, the Bangkok Declaration was endorsed, which calls for actions for integrated water resources management for sustainable agriculture and food security.

Last Friday, on 4 April, together with IFAD as Chair of UN-Water and other partners, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Global Information System on Water and Agriculture - AQUASTAT - the leading source of global water and agriculture data globally. AQUASTAT has been providing information on 180 water indicators since 1961, which reflects the important contribution of FAO to monitor the world water resources.

At this year’s International Day of Forests celebration on 21 March, in collaboration with the City of Rome, under the theme of “Forests and Foods” we engaged with young students at the Global Library of Trees and Flowers FAO Park in Villa Pamphili. 

The event focused on highlighting the link between nature, culture and food culture, and how foods provide the bridge between culture and history.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is the global authority on plant health standards, and as part of FAO’s core normative work, the IPPC plays a critical role in safeguarding global agricultural trade and food security.

To further strengthen these efforts, I have allocated an additional USD 0.5 million in the PWB 2026-27 to enhance the IPPC’s capacity in international standards implementation, training, and innovation. The funding will support, among others, the ePhyto Solution, the Africa Phytosanitary Programme, and enhance early warning systems and phytosanitary capacities at national and regional levels.

The 19th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, held last month, successfully advanced global plant health priorities. Key achievements included the adoption of two International Phytosanitary Standards, and the launch of the IPPC Plant Health Campus, a new platform for capacity building and knowledge sharing – developed by the IPPC and our e-Learning Academy.

In January, FAO launched a report on Sustainable Nitrogen Management in Agrifood Systems, analyzing nitrogen's role and innovative strategies for its optimization and reducing the loss of nitrogen.

In response to ongoing avian influenza outbreaks since 2024, FAO in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health, released the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza 2024–33, aiming to build sustainable and resilient poultry production systems.

In late March, FAO briefed Members on the avian influenza situation and its economic, animal health, public health, and livelihood impacts. FAO will continue assisting Members through the Pandemic Fund, which allocates USD 500 million in support.

Poultry meat and eggs are affordable and nutritious proteins that support better nutrition. The International Forum on Small-Scale Poultry and Feed Value Chains will be held in Uganda in early May, ahead of the Sustainable Poultry and Feed Initiative for Africa.

To enhance impact at country and regional levels, the 2025 International Forum for Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination and World Bee Day will take place in Ethiopia from 20 to 22 May.

And the Second Global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, and the Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators will be held in late September and early October to coincide with the celebration of FAO’s 80th Anniversary.

This year, FAO will engage Members in regional consultations to develop the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation.

The Regional Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation will take place in various regions, held back-to-back with the Regional Meetings for the International Year of Camelids.

Dear Colleagues,

This year, the 5th edition of the World Food Forum will build on past achievements with expanded programmes and with a focus on increasing integration to scale impactful solutions, and ensuring sustained impact and alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31.

This 5th edition from 13 to 17 October will be a historic milestone as it will also mark FAO’s 80th anniversary on the occasion of World Food Day on 16 October.

As the World Food Forum continues to grow as a global movement fostering intergenerational collaboration and investment, this year it will also celebrate eight decades of FAO’s unparalleled contributions to eradicating hunger and improving lives, while emphasizing the Forum’s pivotal role in fostering global youth action, driving scientific innovation and promoting sustainable investments in agrifood systems.

In 2025, the World Food Forum will continue engaging youth in agrifood governance spaces through the Youth Assembly, which will contribute to the 2025 UN Food Systems Summit+4 Stocktaking Moment by providing insights and youth-centered perspectives, ensuring that structured young voices are systematically represented and heard in global agrifood systems deliberations.

The Youth Innovation Lab will continue to work on establishing regional Youth Food Labs, and the National Chapter network and local initiatives implemented through the Global Youth Action Plan 2025-26 will continue supporting young leaders globally to tackle local challenges and drive community-focused agrifood systems transformation. 

The 2025 Global Youth Forum will once again host consultations of Indigenous youth and young farmers, ensuring their voices are meaningfully represented in all deliberations held throughout the Forum.

Members’ demand for the Hand-in-Hand Initiative continues to grow, with 76 member governments currently participating. The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum is now recognized as a go-to event for agrifood investments.

To date, we have ongoing engagement and commitments for a total value of USD 10.1 billion, as presented in the monitoring and evaluation dashboard.

This year’s Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum will showcase agrifood investment cases, developed using the Hand-in-Hand methodologies and tools, from 28 participating member countries and five regional initiatives.

The joint theme of the 2025 World Food Forum, this year’s World Food Day celebration and FAO’s 80th Anniversary activities is “Hand in Hand for better foods and a better future”.

This theme underscores the vital role of global collaboration in creating a peaceful, sustainable, prosperous, and food-secure future. By working together, across governments, organizations, sectors, and communities, we can transform agrifood systems to ensure that everyone has access to a healthy diet, living in harmony with planet and people.

World Food Day will also mark the inauguration of the FAO Food and Agriculture Museum & Network, here at headquarters.

Supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of our host country Italy, this new initiative will engage global audiences, from the public, including youth, to researchers, academics, and technical experts, as well as FAO Members, both in-person and online.

A dedicated space for Library and Knowledge will feature both digital collections and rare books, highlighting their significance in the history and institutional memory of FAO, as well as their role in shaping the future of food and agriculture. 

The FAO Museum & Network will be a permanent educational experience dedicated to food and agriculture, our connection to it, our knowledge of it and FAO’s mandate. As a Museum, it will showcase the significance of global agrifood systems, culinary traditions, scientific and innovative advancements, the Four Betters, and the roles of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples in building a sustainable food future. As a Network, it will serve as a global hub for collaboration, dialogue, and partnerships among diverse stakeholders, broadening the initiative’s reach from local and national to international levels.

The Science and Innovation Forum will join the FAO 80th anniversary celebrations by showcasing innovative solutions over the past eight decades to fight hunger and malnutrition, as well as look forward to emerging science, technologies and innovations to accelerate actions to tackle present and future agrifood systems challenges. 

The Science and Innovation Forum will also be the occasion to launch the Agricultural Technology and Innovation Outlook (ATIO) initiative, to enhance understanding of technology and innovation generation and uptake, and the factors shaping the technology frontier in agrifood systems.

Through our focus on innovation, we continue to advance biotechnology, and in June this year we will host the International Biotechnology Conference, exploring biotechnology’s role in global agrifood systems transformation.  

As part of FAO’s 80th anniversary celebrations, we will also host the First FAO Global Exhibition: From Seeds to Foods from 10 to 13 October, to capture the journey across value chains of agrifood systems – where “seeds” symbolize the foundation of agrifood systems – comprising crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries.

The exhibition will feature interactive displays and elements highlighting the interconnectedness of agrifood systems, the role of science, innovation and technologies, together with traditional knowledge and practices, and the uniqueness and diversity of products that exists around the world.

It is an opportunity for FAO, Members and partners to showcase achievements in the agricultural sector, sustainable and resilient agriculture practices, and demonstrate successful initiatives to produce more with less.

Dear Colleagues,

The success of FAO is built on the talent, dedication, and creativity of its workforce. My goal remains to foster an open, dynamic, diverse, inclusive, and high-performing culture, ensuring that we have the right people in the right roles at the right time.

The new Human Resources Strategy for 2025-28, which was presented to the recent session of the Finance Committee, will guide FAO towards excellence and innovation in the coming years and marks a significant step in FAO’s Human Resources Transformation to an effective strategic business partner, and reinforces our commitment to the strategic management of human capital to enhance the Organization’s ability to deliver on its mandate.

We remain focused on streamlining and improving talent acquisition and recruitment processes, addressing bottlenecks to accelerate hiring, ensuring that FAO attracts and retains top talent, while filling vacant positions efficiently, and securing the necessary technical capacity to deliver on its programme of work.

Building on the success of last year's pilot Orientation Programme, the target audience will be expanded in 2025 to include other employee categories, including the affiliate workforce, in addition to new staff members.

This initiative will equip newcomers with the tools, resources, and insights necessary to adapt to their roles and contribute effectively to the Organization’s goals and objectives.

I have continued with the annual practice of holding an “all FAO employee” Town Hall Meetings, with the most recent edition held at the end of February 2025.

These meetings provide an opportunity for colleagues around the world to come together and interact with me, with the Core Leaders and other senior managers, and to ask questions and share their thoughts in an open and transparent exchange.

Ensuring a safe and respectful workplace remains a top priority. FAO is dedicated to preventing and addressing all forms of harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, sexual exploitation, and abuse of authority.

The FAO Shared Services Centre in Budapest plays a vital role in supporting FAO’s operational excellence, and this year marks its 20th year since its establishment.  

Over these two decades, the Centre has demonstrated its value and importance in contributing towards the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization and as we look ahead, it is essential to build on these successes by embracing new technologies and strategies to remain innovative.

The FAO Procurement Service is undergoing a profound transformation, with procurement transitioning over recent years from a mere operational support function into a strategic enabler driving FAO’s overarching objectives and the Four Betters.

This evolution is anchored by a comprehensive restructuring process to modernize FAO’s procurement practices and optimize their impact.

We continue to advance the professionalization of the FAO logistics function, ensuring it becomes a more efficient and impactful component aligned with FAO’s strategic priorities, focused on streamlining logistics operations, while also developing a comprehensive vision, strategy, and implementation roadmap for Supply Chain Management.

To support this, relevant logistics policies and guidelines are currently under development and are expected to be finalized and rolled out in 2025.

The newly established Fleet Management function continues to foster inter-agency collaboration and to enhance FAO’s operational capacity with a new fleet policy underway.

Donor countries have shown great interest in upgrading or creating better hybrid meeting rooms, increasing FAO effectiveness to connect offices worldwide.

At the same time, we continue to focus on making Country Offices more resilient by implementing, among others, solar systems and other technological improvements.

In view of the 80th Anniversary of the Organization, the entire headquarters compound is being refurbished with the aim of doubling the green areas around the premises by constructing a multi-story parking lot and a new Entrance Pavilion, to meet the highest green standards. 

Last week, new FAO was proud to host the 49th Session of the UN High-Level Committee on Management after 20 years, which plays a key role in ensuring that the UN family remains fit-for-purpose and equipped to address the evolving global challenges.

At a time of increasing demands on the UN, and marked by resource constraints, the importance of a strong, well-coordinated management approach is critical.

The work of this Committee supports us in strengthening business operations and enhancing workforce management, thereby enabling us to focus more effectively on delivering for the people we serve. All participants were very happy to see the big change in FAO.

I recently met with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Executive Coordinator and affirmed my commitment to supporting UN Volunteers to further strengthen FAO’s work by bringing their volunteer spirit and skill sets to the communities that FAO serves in more than 130 countries, in particular at the grassroots level. We will further highlight the FAO-UNV partnership at the World Food Forum to explore ways to strengthen the volunteer movement across FAO’s global portfolio.

Dear Colleagues,

The Office of Evaluation completed 14 evaluations since we last met at the end of 2024, which are providing critical learning for improved output.

In 2019, at the start of my first term, the Ministerial Conference endorsed a Resolution to promote deeper integration of sustainable agricultural approaches into FAO’s activities.

The Office of Evaluation assessment of FAO implementation of this Resolution highlights increased funding, and widespread implementation of projects promoting sustainable agricultural practices across FAO units and regions.

To build on this success, we will continue to strengthen collaboration across units and decentralized offices to further enhance the application of sustainable approaches and to position these approaches at the core of agrifood systems transformation.

I remain committed to strengthening internal oversight and accountability at FAO. Since I took office, I have made it a priority to reinforce the capacity of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with additional resources.

The recent restructuring of OIG has led to innovation in audit and investigations, further improving efficiency and specialization. For improved transparency, OIG has revamped its external webpage and launched two publicly available dashboards providing information on internal audits, integrated into FAO’s Transparency Portal.

Dear Members of Council,

Dear Colleagues,

Just in the four months since November, our 14 000 social media posts received over 1.4 billion views. While digital data visualization through interactive stories on the FAO website, have on their own increased by close to 7.5 percent since the last session of Council. That is more than 200 000 views per month. Noting that for the entire FAO website, we have recorded over 98 million views in 2024 alone. 

FAO has a unique role to play in continuing to provide all our 196 Members with the science-based, coherent and consistent information needed for evidence-based policymaking,

And in communicating the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the Four Betters, showing how the inter-connectedness of agrifood sectors around the world are key to ensuring food security for all.

The world is rapidly changing, and FAO have been and will be more essentially important to global demands.

Tomorrow is full of uncertainty and challenges, but also opportunities.

Together, let us speed up the transformation of global agrifood systems under the overarching guidance of the Four Betters.

Together, let us concentrate the core value of the Orgnaization for noble freedom from want for everyone, everywhere.

Thank you.