Nabilah S
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is actively harnessing the power of science and innovation, with a particular focus on integrating new technologies, especially digital solutions.
The solutions have been innovated in both the public and private sectors, with a focus on four key regional priorities aimed at achieving the Four Betters: Improved Production, Enhanced Nutrition, a Healthier Environment, and a Better Quality of Life for all, ensuring inclusivity.
Director General of FAO, Dr. QU Dongyu emphasized the importance of transforming the Asia-Pacific region’s agrifood systems. He stated that the priority is to make these systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, while ensuring affordable access to healthy diets.
He emphasized the critical importance of boosting agricultural production for ensuring food and nutrient security, stressing the necessity of adopting climate-friendly practices.
“In furtherance of our goals, we are actively assisting nations in enhancing climate adaptation and resilience, promoting low-carbon agriculture, upgrading seed systems, implementing integrated farming management, controlling trans-boundary pests and diseases, disseminating good agricultural practices (GAP), and transferring technologies to smallholders and family farmers. Moreover, we are advocating for increased digitalization and mechanization within local communities,” Dr. QU emphasized.
The Director General has underscored additional priorities such as expediting sustainable natural resources management to promote biodiversity conservation and climate action. Moreover, there is a focus on fostering inclusive rural transformation to cultivate equitable societies through economic advancement, job opportunities, and support for vulnerable groups to mitigate inequality, ensuring no nation or individual is left behind. These goals are particularly significant within the distinctive context of the region’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
In our efforts to address these priorities, we are accelerating and expanding measurable and transparent outcomes on the field by implementing the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and pertinent strategies.
