NSP New Year Meeting sets strategic direction for the division

The FAO Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) began 2025 on a promising note with its New Year Meeting on January 23. The event brought together more than 100 team members, both in person and online, to reflect on the past year achievements, celebrate success, and set priorities for the year ahead. Moderated by Chikelu Mba, Deputy Director of NSP, the meeting included engaging discussions and encouraging messages from the division’s leadership.

FAO Deputy Director-General (DDG) Beth Bechdol opened the meeting with congratulatory remarks and praising NSP’s success in 2024. She advised NSP colleagues to foster collaboration with other divisions and to provide robust support for the country offices, particularly for colleagues who are in the field serving people in emergencies in challenging working conditions and often putting their lives and well-being in risk. 

Chikelu Mba acknowledged outstanding team members, including those honoured with the FAO Employee Recognition Award, and the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Team, which received the One FAO Team Award for exceptional achievements. Elena Irde, Programme Assistant, introduced new colleagues and thanked the former colleagues who departed last year for their invaluable contributions.

DDG Beth Bechdol (left), and NSP Director Yurdi Yasmi (right) delivering remarks. © FAO/MH Kawsar Rudro

Yurdi Yasmi, Director of NSP, shared the new strategic directions for the division for 2025, calling for greater collaboration and teamwork within the division to maximize impact. “Considering the pivotal role NSP plays in achieving FAO’s organization goals, we must intensify our efforts, adopting new strategic directions that prioritize quality, positivity, solution-orientation, timeliness, and efficiency,” Yurdi emphasized. 

Christine Fuell, Senior Technical Officer, and AlDobai Shoki, Senior Agriculture Officer, shared key highlights and achievements of NSP in 2024 and outlined the divisional priorities for the coming year. In 2024, NSP supported 254 projects in more than 120 countries across the world, collaborating with 215 organizations and partners including 12 UN organizations. Key achievements included improved farmers’ access to quality seeds, advancement in sustainable cropping systems through mechanization and agroecology, promotion of special agricultural products, and enhanced plant health due to advanced pest monitoring and safe trade of plant and plant products. Priorities for 2025 include continuation of efforts to strengthen sustainable plant production and protection at global, regional and country level by working collaboratively with Member States and partners through various initiatives, projects and activities, e.g. technical and normative work, global exhibition, policy dialogues and conferences, capacity building and standard settings. Further efforts will be undertaken for staff capacity development and strengthening of coordination and collaboration with internal and external partners, FAO’s regional, sub-regional and country offices and divisions.   

Team activities during the meeting. ©FAO/ MH Kawsar Rudro

A dynamic discussion session, facilitated by Yurdi, sparked enthusiasm among participants contributing to NSP’s strategic goals and work plan. They actively provided feedback on opportunities to enhance division’s impact, ways to improve collaboration across teams and divisions, new ideas to prioritize, and the benchmark for division’s success. 
In her closing remarks, DDG Beth Bechdol reflected on the energy and dedication demonstrated by the team, underscoring the importance of maintaining the momentum throughout 2025. The new year meeting marked a promising start for the year ahead, laying the foundation for impactful collaboration and innovation across the division.

Group photo of the participants. ©FAO/MH Kawsar Rudro