ANNUAL MEETING OF FAO REPRESENTATIVES ASIA PACIFIC REGION

ANNUAL MEETING OF

FAO REPRESENTATIVES ASIA PACIFIC REGION

INTERVENTION OF DIRECTOR-GENERAL DR. QU DONGYU

4 FEBRUARY 2021 

As delivered

Dear colleagues,

1.           I am pleased to meet with you today and I hope that you and your families had a good start into 2021!

2.           I acknowledge the dedication and hard work of all FAO employees in the Asia Pacific Region throughout a very challenging year 2020.

3.           You continued carrying out FAO projects and activities under pressing circumstances.

4.           Your commitment brought us closer to our Members and their needs.

5.           We launched the most important reform in FAO’s history, restructuring and transformation by making 2020 FAO’s Year of efficiency.

6.           And together we translated the vision of a more efficient and inclusive Organization for better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life into concrete action.

7.           And you reformed yourselves, to change your mind-set, your way of thinking and working, in order to develop a new FAO culture.

8.           In that respect, I encourage you to set your own agenda for a lifelong learning. I firmly believe that the day we graduate from University or school is the beginning of a continuous self-learning process.

9.           Learning is a cornerstone of the new FAO.

10.           The new FAO culture is built on inclusiveness, professionalism, accountability, and innovation and is anchored in our mandate and Basic Texts.

11.           There has been significant progress in cultivating this new FAO.

12.           Simply we need to support the recovery of our Members from the economic and social crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

13.           As you all know, the effects of COVID-19 pandemic is jeopardizing human health, disrupting agri-food systems and affecting lives and livelihoods across the region and beyond.

14.           The number of food insecure people is expected to increase due to the socio- economic impact.

15.           I commend the Regional Office for the rapid impact assessments conducted in almost every country of the region including the Pacific Islands.

16.           We have launched an ambitious COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme that provides support and platform for you.

17.           We need to offer all our expertise to our Members, making sure that we become a trusted partner in their work to recover from the crisis as soon as possible.

18.           This is a big challenge, but at the same time an opportunity to build forward better and to develop long-term strategies and actionable programs to support governments.

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19.           We will continue our reform efforts at headquarters and across our offices world-wide.

20.           For 2021, we add effectiveness to efficiency and we maintain a strong focus on accountability and transparency.

21.           As a professional knowledge Organization, we will take full advantage of the FAO Network to share the technical expertise of FAO and the impressive experience gained over the years all across the world.

22.           To be clear: Establishing cross-continent cooperation through the FAO Network will be a real game changer in the way you collaborate internally, with direct impact on the quality of the support provided to our Members!

23.           I encourage you to seek opportunities to build One FAO by working with your counterparts in other regions. For example,

• Laos can share with Ethiopia and Colombia because they are coffee producers.
• Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, south Korea and Thailand can share knowledge with other countries that produce rice to increase productivity.

24.           Launching a platform by an innovative cross-regional cooperation among Small Island Developing States (SIDS Solution) is a key deliverable for your region this year.

25.           Because of their geographic isolation or limited natural resources, SIDS often share a unique set of circumstances, such as vulnerability to natural disasters or reliance on imports.

26.           These result in a complex set of food security and nutrition challenges.

27.           We are helping SIDS create enabling environments for food security and nutrition, transform their agri-food systems to improve nutrition-sensitivity, resilience and sustainability and empower people and communities to lead healthy and productive lives.

28.           But the impact of COVID-19 on economies and social wellbeing and ensuing food security crisis puts the SIDS at risk of losing the gains they have achieved over recent years towards realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

29.           Innovative solutions and new approaches are needed!

30.           We need to foster the exchange of solutions among Small Island Development States (SIDS).

31.           The Pacific SIDS Development Solutions Forum, which is planned to be held in June 2021, is therefore very timely.

32.           Prior to convening the SIDS Solutions Forum, ten innovative solutions for the SIDS context would be identified and developed.

33.           I encourage you to take advantage of all available digital technologies to collaborate across regions and share the solutions identified.

34.           The Forum will facilitate the introduction of solutions from all SIDS situations including outside Pacific to the Pacific and sharing Pacific solutions with other SIDS regions.

35.           I understand that the Forum will document, analyze and further scale up home-grown solutions, innovations and processes that have passed the proof of success as piloted in Pacific SIDS.

36.           I am happy to note that two Pacific-focused FAO projects will play a strong catalytic role.

37.           Together with other Hand-in-Hand experiences, results achieved from field projects will contribute to the exchange of innovative solutions within SIDS.

38.           All of this will facilitate the development of targeted, solution-based South-South and Triangular Cooperation partnerships and resource mobilization activities, while at the same time building on the Hand-in-Hand Initiative.

39.           We are able to move ahead, now that we have unlocked the key to digital collaboration.

40.           This is why I called for each Region to establish knowledge platforms for specific areas of work, based on the experience available.

41.           These dedicated thematic FAO Knowledge Platforms will also be a powerful concrete service for farmers, decision-makers, academia and so many more.

42.           At this stage, the Asia and Pacific Region will establish such platforms for two areas of work:

• Digital Food and Agriculture; and
• Aquaculture.

43.           Digital Food and Agriculture and digital rural transformation will launch the new age of agriculture to combat hunger, poverty and inequality.

44.           Digital technology applications for agricultural and food markets can generate significant economic, social and environmental benefits and accelerate progress towards achieving the SDGs.

45.           Adopting new technologies can address the challenges of food insecurity from multiple fronts: it increases access of households to non-farm income and enables households to better address the safety, quality, and nutritional value of their food.

46.           Digital technologies can make poor populations more resilient.

• Access to technology increases the amount, timeliness, and quality of the information available to the poor.
• Being better informed, means better knowledge about available job opportunities.
• The availability of timely and better quality information regarding products and inputs, environmental conditions, and market conditions leads to higher crop yields.
• Digital technologies give access to learning, which itself can enhance technology adoption among farmers.
• Improved access to health and nutritional information through digital technologies is valuable knowledge that can contribute to the reduction in the prevalence of hunger amongst the poor.

47.           Digital technologies improve market efficiency and have a large impact on agri-food systems.

• They allow different market agents to communicate more efficiently.
• This enhanced information flow can be critical for rural areas in developing countries, where markets tend to be less integrated due to inadequate infrastructure
• Farmers with access to mobile phones, can better plan how much to plant in each season and what type of investments could be profitable based on supply and demand.
• They can also gather information from extended networks and cooperatives on market conditions and quality requirements needed to access higher end markets.
• Better information through the use of digital technologies can generate a more efficient allocation of products: Farmers can find markets offering higher prices or negotiate better with traders.

48.           Digital technologies can be used to reduce price variability.

• When there is limited information, prices tend to vary based on the current local supply.
• Improved information flow effectively limits the influence of local fluctuations and lets market prices reflect aggregate supply situations.
• Farmers in areas with surplus harvests can sell their products in areas facing shortages.
• In the long term, farmers could change production patterns, as they gain access to information about more profitable crops or previously unknown agricultural techniques.

49.           Digital technologies are the future of extension services.

• Digital technologies reduce the cost of extension visits, enabling more frequent two-way communication between farmers and agents, and improving the accountability of agents
• They overcome the problem of poor infrastructure making it easier and less costly to visit remote areas.
• Access to digital technologies makes it cost-effective to continuously update farmers with the latest developments and follow-up information.  

50.           Digital technologies can revitalize rural areas, providing jobs, insurance and financial inclusion.

• Digital technologies in Earth observation, satellite rainfall estimations and remote sensing, combined with in-situ data and blockchain technology, can support index-based insurance programs at lower costs.
• Millions of smallholder farmers, many of whom were previously considered uninsurable, could be reached.
• Financial institutions can enter rural markets without establishing a costly physical presence which brings financial inclusion to rural populations.
• E-commerce platforms provide an opportunity for educated youth and women to remain in or return to rural areas.
• Rural areas can be transformed into more attractive places to live and work.

51.           Clearly, the benefits of digital technologies and applications extend to consumers and stakeholders beyond the rural areas.

52.           Blockchain technology for instance can build trust and promote transparency by increasing the traceability of food throughout the value chain.

53.           This can support the implementation of sustainability standards and labelling that provide information to consumers.

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54.           The 1 000 Digital Villages is a direct implementation of the various elements cited above.

55.           We aim to increase resilience by introducing key capabilities like e-commerce to rural areas.

56.           We want to facilitate the farmers’ access to markets and diversify their incomes, which is particularly critical in light of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

57.           The Initiative will help to build back better and achieve the four betters.

58.           Unleashing the potential of digital agriculture means bridging the urban-rural divide by creating rural-urban linkages and integrating rural areas in the digital economy.

59.           We also aim to reduce the gender digital divide by increasing the access of rural women to digital technologies not only in agriculture but also for rural services and the diversification of their incomes.

60.           These digital villages will be entry point to rural development, digitalization; rural revitalization; employment generation, including for youth, modernization of agriculture and income generation.

61.           We will build on the key data, information and knowledge provided by the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the FAO Digital Services Portfolio, the e-Agriculture Strategy Guide, the International Platform for Digital Food and Agricultureand other sources.

62.           The Geospatial Platformand the Data labwill support identifying countries and villages.

63.           The 1 000 digital villages project will focus on several digital technologies to improve production and agri-business management, and related market-oriented and social services of agricultural processes.

64.           From the perspective of agricultural production, the project refers to “e-Agriculture” which focus on improving the productivity by using ICTs and relevant digital solutions, for example, climate smart agriculture, precision agriculture and intelligent facility agriculture.

65.           From the perspective of farmer’s livelihood, the project refers to “Digital Farmer Services” which focus on how to enhance farmers 'accessibility to different kinds of social and economic services in terms of financial services, social protection, employment, for example, digital finance, Fintech, Digital-based agricultural insurance schemes and farm registries.

66.           From the perspective of the village, the project refers to Digital Services to support “Rural transformation” which focus on how to enhance the delivery of public services in health, education, jobs, welfare, eco-tourism and agri-tourism.

67.           I note with satisfaction that you have started the dialogue with governments in selected countries to gauge their interest and articulate the support needed to help develop national digital village strategies and formulate action plans for implementing digital villages throughout 2020.

68.           I commend your continued effort in reaching out to the 10 participating countries of Asia and the Pacific region that include Bangladesh, Fiji, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam—to support the national digital strategies and support expanding digital services and innovations to 100 villages.

69.           I am also happy to learn that you are collaborating with ITU, UNDP, International Financial Institutions and national universities from the region to provide the technical support needed for the participating countries in the 1 000 digital village initiative.

Colleagues,

70.           Aquaculture has a crucial role in global food security, with its production growing on average by 7.5 percent per year since 1970.

71.           Recognizing the global capacity of aquaculture for further growth, but also the environmental challenges the sector must face as it intensifies production, demands new sustainable aquaculture development strategies.

72.           Such strategies need to harness technical developments in feeds, genetic selection, biosecurity and disease control, and digital innovation, with business developments in investment and trade.

73.           A special focus is to develop aquaculture in Africa and in other regions where population growth will challenge agri-food systems most.

74.           Asia is the cradle of aquaculture, with the first culture of carp fish raised on Chinese rice fields thousands of years ago.

75.           The sector has been and continues to be predominant in developing countries, particularly in Asia.

76.           Asian aquaculture by and large is a small scale farming activity, where most practices are family-owned, managed, and operated.

77.           The sector provides direct and indirect livelihood means to millions, a significant proportion of which is rural, and for some Asian nations, it is a main source of foreign exchange earnings.

78.           Aquaculture contributes to food security and poverty alleviation, and is considered to be a successful primary food sector globally.

79.           Today, your region is a powerhouse of aquaculture.

80.           Asia identified the right approaches and adequate solutions, thereby allowing the sector to grow and flourish.

81.           There is innovation. For example in closing the life cycle, which allowed for economies of scale and made mass production possible.

82.           This lead to success stories, like the Pangasius in Vietnam, where production went from zero to a million tons in a few years.

83.           The region also addressed the important matter of aquatic biosecurity. FAO’s experiences in supporting Thailand tackling disease in shrimp for example is very relevant.

84.           Asia created a conducive policy environment based on good science thereby allowing aquaculture to become more sustainable by implementing better policies and promoting better practices and good governance at all levels.

85.           Your experience in implementing a regional blue growth Initiative, to improve integration of rice and fish culture is also highly relevant for many other regions.

86.           The FAO Knowledge Platform on Aquaculture will be an excellent tool to ensure dissemination and sharing of all this experience with the world.

87.           The successful experiences and lessons learned in your region will help to bring about policy changes, particularly in emerging aquaculture nations to pursue aquaculture development in a sustainable and an environment-friendly manner.

88.           We need to build awareness on success stories and highlight the positive impact of aquaculture.

89.           You will take the lead and colleagues from other regions will contribute.

90.           The platform will provide support and enhance synergy with ongoing efforts, such as the current work on FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture.

91.           It is essential that we use the cumulative knowledge of FAO to establish a strong knowledge platform that promotes better understanding and management of aquaculture.

92.           The sustainable intensification of aquaculture and its effective management globally, is essential for future food security, nutrition and the transformation of agri-food systems.

93.           And there is a very specific milestone you need to keep in mind:

94.           The 4^th Global Conference on Aquaculture Millennium +20 will take place in September of this year.

95.           After Kyoto in 1976, Bangkok in 2000 and Phuket in 2010, Shanghai will host this important event.

96.           The FAO Knowledge Platform on Aquaculture will offer professional reference and expertise.

97.           As delegates will discuss how to enhance the contribution of aquaculture to the SDGs in the next 10 years, FAO will be providing a modern digital platform of knowledge.

98.           I am counting on you to prepare a world-class knowledge platform, to foster greater sharing of awareness on aquaculture production and management between regions.

99.           And I count on you to also contribute to the various knowledge platforms that other regions are developing.

100.           I also encourage you to build bridges between the FAO Youth and Women Committees and similar national structures in the region.

101.           The exchange of innovative and fresh ideas would certainly be of mutual benefit! 

Colleagues,

102.           2021 will see a series of important milestones, from the UN Food Systems Summit, the Pre-Summit in Rome, the FAO Ministerial Conference, the FAO Youth World Food Forum and the G20 Summit.

103.           And we are presenting the new FAO Strategic Framework that builds on the momentum and transformations already taking place in the Organization, and that recognizes the challenges facing humanity.

104.           The new Strategic Framework is anchored in the 2030 Agenda and guided by SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 2 No Hunger, and SDG 10 Reducing Inequalities.

105.           It will be discussed in the upcoming meetings of the Programme and Finance Committees, the Council and at the FAO Conference.

106.           I am counting on your active support to the Ministers of the Region in preparing for the Conference and providing them with all the information they require.

107.           You are FAO’s Ambassadors on the ground.

108.           There is enormous potential in this region with its impressive ecosystems, its cultural heritage in rural areas, its indigenous traditions, its diversity, and its strengths.

109.           We can create many new opportunities and promote the wellbeing of thousands, perhaps millions of people, particularly the youth and rural women.

110.           We live in historic times and the world expects us to contribute to Building Back Better and Greener.

111.           To lead the transformation of agri-food systems to make them inclusive, resilient and sustainable!

112.           Together we can do more historically, holistically, coherently and collectively!

113.           Before closing, I want to congratulate all of you for the fast approaching Chinese New Year. The year of the Ox.

114.           In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics are attributed to it, such as being hardworking and honest.

115.           I think that this is very fitting for us!

116.           May the New Year bless you with health and happiness.

Thank you.