FAO: A Glorious Journey. 75 years at the Service of Progress

An exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), titled “FAO: A Glorious Journey. 75 Years at the Service of Progress”, opened on the World Food Day (WFD). Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together is the WFD theme this year.   

The FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy, Russian State University for the Humanities and the Russian Geographical Society jointly organized the exhibition.

The opening of the exhibition was held via videoconference attended by the co-organizers, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to FAO and other international organizations in Rome, and FAO partners from across Russia.

The exhibition’s numerous archival documents and photographs on the history of FAO featured materials on Russia’s accession to the Organization, provided by the David Lubin Memorial Library at FAO headquarters and the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

“FAO is one of the oldest and most representative specialized agencies within the United Nations system. Over the course of 75 years men and women working for FAO in 130 countries around the globe have been fighting hunger, promoting food security, developing rural infrastructure, and improving living standards. At present, a quarter of the world’s population lives in rural areas, and agriculture and related industries provide livelihoods to more than three billion people,” Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, recalled in his opening remarks.

“We have not yet succeeded in defeating hunger. But we are close to achieving that goal. Today, the efforts of all 194 FAO Member States are aimed at ensuring that by 2030 the phenomenon of hunger would disappear from the face of the Earth and food security would be ensured for all countries, so that humanity moves forward on the basis of a healthy and active life,” Kobiakov, who was moderating the event, underlined.

In a video message on the occasion of the Organization’s 75th anniversary, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said: “Alongside our partners, we must be knowledge generators and facilitators all at once, together in the quest for the ultimate public good: a world free of poverty, hunger and malnutrition.”

Since its foundation, FAO has pursued a common goal for all of humanity: improving the quality of life by enhancing food security. FAO has contributed to the development of common approaches to trade in food and agricultural products; improved international legal regulation; and provided support to agricultural producers, said Sergey Vershinin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Having become a full-fledged member of FAO in 2006, the Russian Federation has hosted an impressive array of events on its territory, the Deputy Minister continued. These include Codex Alimentarius Commission, Committee on Fisheries, and Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-Based Industries events. In 2018, the Russian city of Voronezh hosted the 31st session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe, the Organization’s main regional forum. The Global Forum on Nutrition and Social Protection and the International Conference on Food Safety and Risk Analysis were also held with the participation of FAO.

To respond to modern challenges, “coordinated international efforts are needed.” In this regard, “FAO has a unique mandate and balance of expertise and experience... We highly appreciate the work of FAO, we are its reliable partner and responsible donor,” Sergey Vershinin concluded, stressing: “We have accumulated a solid and positive experience of cooperation with FAO.”

Recalling “the long road FAO has travelled [since its establishment]”, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Natalia Bocharova drew attention to the Ministry’s scientific and educational initiative for Africa, which could become a point of convergence of interests of Russia and FAO. “We believe that the experience of Russian scientists, our innovative developments and education programs will also be useful in the work of FAO.”

Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) Mikhail Bryukhanov outlined a whole range of areas for building a partnership with FAO: education, municipal construction, and information support for joint projects, among others.

Maxim Markovich, Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, warmly congratulated FAO on its 75th anniversary. 14 years of FAO membership have benefited not only Russia and FAO, but also many other countries. The partnership has contributed to the development of agricultural and food systems, improved school diets, enhanced measures against the spread of antimicrobial resistance and dangerous agricultural pests, and for the rational use of soil resources. Yet, “we cannot stop there. We are ready to expand and deepen our cooperation, using new investment opportunities,” Maxim Markovich underlined.

One of the key proponents of Russia’s return to FAO, Alexander Yakovenko, then Deputy Foreign Minister and at present Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, recalled that “when we joined FAO in 2006, we counted on Russia's significant contribution. And these 14 years have not gone by in vain. We have become one of the leading donor countries... the FAO Director-General quite accurately pointed out that FAO is not merely an organization of goals, but it is also an organization of actions,” the diplomat underlined. “But while thinking about the future, one must not forget the past.”

"We are confident that our cooperation with FAO, which is being born today, will continue and will last for years," said Alexander Bezborodov, Rector of the Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH). FAO has noted with interest that RSUH produces dozens of specialists in African studies every year; conducts archaeological research of ancient and early civilizations – in countries such as Sudan, Egypt, and South Sudan. Another area of work of our University that is relevant for FAO is the advancement of the Russian language and culture, their promotion among students from African countries. I am sure that our partnership with FAO has a great future!"

“Looking back at the history of relations between Russia and FAO, I feel obliged to pay tribute to the legendary figure of the Director of the Moscow Agricultural Academy V.S. Nemchinov, who participated in the International Conference on Food and Agriculture in Hot Springs (USA) in May 1943. This illustrious Soviet scientist stood at the origins of the decision to create FAO”, said Vladimir Trukhachev, Rector of the Russian State Agrarian University, reminiscing about one of his predecessors, and going back in time to recall some of the memorable dates in the relations between the Academy and FAO.

“On this occasion, we applaud FAO for sustained efforts in the area of research and development. FAO was instrumental in developing capacities and in the transfer of technology to smallholders in Uganda,” said Ambrose Agona, Director-General of National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) of the Republic of Uganda.

“We need smart agriculture to unlock the potential of developing countries especially in Africa,” he said, adding, “I have been to Russia and acquainted with Russian food production systems and organization of production of crops. I believe Russia could help Africa produce food… and FAO could act as a catalyst.” 

The exhibition of archival documents on the history of FAO is held, among others, at the Moscow headquarters of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS). This oldest scientific association founded 175 years ago has long established relations with FAO, said Ilya Gurov, RGS First Deputy Executive Director.

“My background is in Soil Geography, hence, I am happy to participate in FAO’s projects in accordance with my personal and scientific interests.” Volunteers are a promising area of our partnership. “We involve our volunteer corps in our expeditions, research, and education campaigns, and they could gain invaluable experience working for FAO,” Ilya Gurov concluded.

Despite its respectable age, “today more than ever FAO is in great demand,” said Dilyara Ravilova-Borovik, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to FAO and WFP. Not only because the problem of eradicating hunger has not yet been solved. In the context of our “new normal”, it is necessary to increase food production, but this goal should be achieved “effectively and without compromising human health and the environment, combining scientific and practical approaches”. “FAO lives up to its title of a knowledge organization,” stated Dilyara Ravilova-Borovik.

The celebration of the World Food Day and the 75th anniversary of FAO in Moscow continued with a virtual tour of the exhibition led by Oleg Kobiakov.

70 experts, heads of Russian ministries and agencies, representatives of the scientific community, industry associations, and public organizations joined the online anniversary event.

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The full “FAO: A Glorious Journey. 75 Years at the Service of Progress” exhibition is available on the Internet at an album. The recording of the event is available here.

Oleg Kobiakov’s interview on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of FAO to one of Russia’s leading shows on agriculture, “Rural Hour” with Igor Abakumov, is available here: https://youtu.be/8Ia9ejCqTL8.