Bilateral meeting with H.E. Hendrik Johannes Terras, Minister for Regional Affairs and Agriculture of the Republic of Estonia

Rome - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with H.E. Hendrik Johannes Terras, Minister for Regional Affairs and Agriculture of the Republic of Estonia, on the margins of the 44th Session of the FAO Ministerial Conference.

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and thanked him for Estonia’s ongoing support to the work of FAO, recognizing Estonia’s strong expertise in digital technology and education which he noted were fundamental pillars for sustainable and transformative agrifood systems.

Minister Terras commended the Director-General for FAO’s science-based approach in addressing global challenges, and expressed concern for the increase in global food insecurity which continued to be affected by the lingering impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, among others. The Minister further provided an overview of Estonia’s important agricultural sector informing that it represented about 14% of exports. In this regard, he mentioned wheat production for the global market, as well as its strong dairy sector, including exports of whey powder, cheese and high genetic merit dairy cows.

The Minister also raised concerns about animal health, citing a recent case of African Swine Fever, as well as the persistent threat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease. The Director-General acknowledged these challenges and reiterated FAO’s commitment to supporting Members in managing the increasing threat of transboundary animal diseases.

The Director-General and the Minister then went on to exchange views on the efficiencies achieved through FAO’s digital transformation, including the cost savings and environmental benefits of reducing paper-based processes. The Director-General also mentioned other new FAO initiatives, including the upcoming launch of the FAO Museum and Network on the occasion of FAO’s 80th Anniversary highlighting it would also serve as a platform to engage youth in agriculture and connect institutions globally.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthening collaboration and exploring new avenues for partnership in support of FAO’s global mandate.