Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
19/04/2021
Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021
A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation
“Path Towards SDG 2030: Poverty Reduction and Rural Sustainable Development”
19 April 2021
Video Message by FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Ending poverty and promoting sustainable rural developmentis at the core of FAO’s mandate and central to achieving the SDGs.
2. The agri-food systems approach, which is the constellation of activities involved in producing, processing, transporting and consuming food, is crucial to ending extreme poverty and stimulating rural economies.
3. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of the current agri-food systems and highlighted the need to transform them.
4. A transformation, which requires using innovative approaches and digital technologies, fostering economic diversification and investing in health, education, human capacity, social protection and infrastructure.
5. The renewed FAO is leveraging the potential of agri-food systems transformation for advancing rural development and eradicating poverty.
6. FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to MORE efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agri-food systems for Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better life, leaving no one behind.
7. These ‘Four Betters’ represent an innovative business model for how FAO intends to contribute to SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), and SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) as well as to supporting the achievement of the broader SDG agenda.
8. Using cutting-edge technologies, FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative aims to reduce poverty by improving agricultural potential through investing in innovative, inclusive and productive value chains and building human capacity.
9. The FAO comprehensive COVID-19 Response and Recovery Program, focuses on immediate and medium to longer-term actions to prevent the health crisis becoming a food crisis.
10. This holistic program is designed not only to help countries for recovery but also to build back better and stronger towards transforming agri-food systems.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
11. Overall, Asia remains the greatest contributor to global poverty reduction, according to the Asia Poverty Reduction Report 2020, published by Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).
12. Meanwhile, more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic shock caused has stalled poverty reduction and increased inequality.
13. We are at a historic juncture, where solidarity and collaboration are crucial, to build back better - by transforming agri-food systems, fostering inclusive rural development and ending poverty.
14. As the specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, FAO stands ready to support Members achieving food security for all and building prosperous, sustainable rural communities.
15. Thank you.