Director-General champions innovation and collaboration at 44th Session of the FAO Conference

Rome – The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, concluded the 44th Session of the FAO Conference (28 June – 4 July) by emphasizing the imperative for a robust FAO in light of the immense, complex, and interconnected challenges facing humanity. He articulated four fundamental truths derived from discussions among Members: (i) Resilience is built, not given; (ii) Innovation is our lever; (iii) Partnerships are the DNA of our humanity; and (iv) Targeted action yields tangible results.

In his opening remarks at the Conference, on 30 June, Qu had already highlighted the pivotal moment for transforming global agrifood systems, calling for ambitious, science-based, and inclusive actions to advance the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, ensuring that no one is left behind.

"Let this 44th Session be remembered as the moment we saw hope amid difficulties, and we collectively chose a positive approach, with forward thinking and real multilateralism," he said, urging Members to move beyond rhetoric and work together with determination and creativity.

In fact, FAO seized this year’s Conference to reinforce its role as a catalyst for practical multilateral cooperation aimed at addressing today’s most pressing agrifood challenges.

Throughout the Conference, the Director-General engaged in several side events, launched reports, inaugurated new technical rooms, and held multiple bilateral meetings with ministers and other high-level representatives, among other activities.

Four Betters for life

On the first day of the Conference, on 28 June, the Director-General introduced H.E. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th UN General Assembly, to deliver the 2025 McDougall Memorial Lecture.

In his presentation, Yang emphasized that food security involves more than just having enough food to eat; it is an integral and interconnected aspect of the UN’s three pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and the safeguarding of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

He praised FAO’s vision of the Four Betters: “We should make these Four Betters part of our daily life,” and highlighted that agrifood systems represent the world’s largest economic network, influencing nearly every aspect of life on our planet. Yang urged all FAO Members to adopt a “problem-oriented” approach and show the resolve to make abundance accessible for all.

Status of Youth

One of the week’s highlights was the launch of the report The Status of Youth in Agrifood Systems. This report explores technical and policy initiatives aimed at creating decent job opportunities, enhancing food security and nutrition, and bolstering the resilience of young people in the face of shocks. It positions youth as key change agents in the agricultural sector, identifying them as the next generation of producers, processors, service providers, and consumers.

"We welcome all the youth from all over the world to change the global agrifood system. We firmly believe that youth are key to the Four Betters. That's a global movement. Be friendly with youth, be bright to the future," said the Director-General during the launch event.

A new financing facility against food crises

Also on the sidelines of the Conference, FAO launched the Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis (FSFC) Facility, a mechanism that builds on the existing initiatives to anticipate and prevent escalating food emergencies before they occur. 

At the launch event, the FAO Director-General called for a fundamental shift in how the world responds to food crisis – moving from reactive emergency aid to anticipatory action and financing.

“Each year, millions of people are pushed into hunger due to droughts, floods, conflict, and economic shocks,” Qu said noting that the response often comes after crises have spiralled out of control and escalated into full-blown emergencies. “The FSFC is designed to change that paradigm. It offers a new model of anticipatory action, built on a simple but powerful truth: it is more effective – and more cost-efficient – to act before a crisis becomes a catastrophe.”

Strengthening FAO's normative mandate

Another significant highlight was the first ever Treaty Ceremony reinforcing FAO’s normative role.

The Ceremony featured the formal deposit of legal instruments related to some of the 17 treaties adopted under Article XIV of the FAO Constitution. These treaties provide frameworks for cooperation in areas such as animal health, plant protection, fisheries, aquaculture, and desert locust control. They also help ensure that countries work together to address threats that transcend borders and require shared technical solutions.

“Each deposit is a powerful sovereign act, contributing to joint action to the benefit of people and the planet, in line with FAO’s mandate,” the Director-General said.

Driving innovation through the Four Betters

Three roundtables were organized during the Conference Plenary proceedings to highlight how the Four Betters are pivotal and cross-cutting to FAO’s work.

During the roundtable on the Four Betters for innovation and agrifood systems transformation, Qu emphasized the necessity of integrated thinking – combining digital technologies, institutional reform, and cross-sector collaboration. Flagship projects, such as the Agro-Informatics Platform and the 1000 Digital Villages initiative, were showcased to exemplify FAO's commitment to real-time solutions that directly support farmers.

At the roundtable focused on the Four Betters for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), the Director-General underscored the specific challenges faced by these vulnerable nations.

He highlighted the compounded effects of fragility, reliance on food imports, and environmental shocks, advocating for more resilient and forward-looking strategies. Ministers from the Bahamas, Madagascar, Nepal, and Paraguay echoed this call, emphasizing the urgent need for support for smallholders, youth, and climate-resilient value chains.

Additionally, SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs had their voice heard during a high-level ministerial event, in which those countries adopted a ministerial statement urging FAO to develop a comprehensive strategy and action plan for the transformation of agrifood systems, focusing on their specific priorities.

In his opening remarks to the event, the Director-General emphasized the urgency of accelerating efficient, inclusive, resilient, sustainable and country-led agrifood systems transformation in most vulnerable states.

“When agrifood systems thrive, economies grow, health improves, and societies flourish,” Qu said. “Investments in innovation, technology, nutrition, and sustainable financing are not isolated, but are part of an overarching transformation designed to leave no one behind.”

At the roundtable “Four Betters for the Future – Delivering Good Food for All – Today and Tomorrow,” the Director-General emphasized that technology and innovation are pivotal in driving change. He further noted that agrifood systems are the foundation of our societies, economies and environment, highlighting the need for more functional and efficient agrifood systems in developing countries.

New FAO dedicated technical rooms

Another high moment of the week was the inauguration of two new technical rooms at the Organization’s headquarters in Rome: the Liberia Situation Room and the Netherlands Acceleration Zone. These state-of-the-art facilities are set to significantly enhance the Organization’s efficiency and effectiveness in delivering its mandate.

The Liberia Situation Room is a cutting-edge facility designed as a real-time, data and science driven decision support hub for early warning systems for shocks impacting food security. The Netherlands Acceleration Zone is designed to foster collaboration and innovation within the Organization.

Other events and bilateral meetings

Partnerships and solidarity took center stage in the South-South Cooperation side event, where Qu praised China and Brazil's leadership and noted that we need to expand training to the Global South on agrifood systems and rural development policy through enabling policies. He also encouraged cross-continent cooperation across Asia, Near East and Africa starting with one country, one commodity.

The 2025 FAO Champion and Partnership Awards honoured organizations from Colombia, Egypt and the Philippines for their impact on agrifood transformation. "These Awards are more than an acknowledgment of achievements – they represent FAO's core values and aspirations," said Qu. "The ceremony is a celebration of possibility and hope."

In addition, the Director-General presided over the closing of the International Year of Camelids 2024, highlighting the animals' cultural and ecological significance. "From camelids, we can learn to face challenges and build resilience as human beings," he remarked, calling for the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

Qu also addressed young foresters during "Forest Harmonies," an event celebrating FAO's 80th Anniversary. He noted: "Young people are transforming how trees are used to make instruments," and praised youth-led innovations that promote sustainable sourcing. The gathering also spotlighted threats to rare tone woods and the role of cultural exchange in forest conservation.

FAO's enhanced Transparency Portal and Programme & Project Dashboards were unveiled. "I have prioritized digital transformation – not as an end in itself, but as a way to better serve you, our Members," said Qu. "Transparency is not only about sharing data; it is about building trust, enabling accountability and supporting evidence-based decision-making."

Throughout the week, the Director-General also held approximately 50 bilateral meetings with Ministers and high-level officials from around the world, reinforcing Member engagement at the highest levels.

LINK to DG Speeches