The 40th session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN was held from 3-8 July 2017 in Rome, Italy.
In his opening speech, FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva highlighted that the number of hungry people worldwide has increased since 2015, calling on countries to translate their commitments in the fight against hunger into action.
8 July 2017: The 40th session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) endorsed the Organization’s programme for work and budget 2018-2019, titled ‘Climate Change and its impact on the work activities of FAO.’
FAO Director-General Graziano da Silva noted that the programme for work and budget reinforces FAO’s work on climate change and reflects the need to implement sustainable food systems that are resilient to climate change. He also underscored the role of FAO’s work in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Speakers stressed the need to address acute crises of hunger and famine in 19 countries caused by protracted crises and extreme weather events.
The Conference brought together more than 1150 delegates from 181 countries. It addressed a range of issues relating to FAO’s work and the organization’s priorities for the 2018-2019 biennium. During the opening session, speakers stressed the need to address acute crises of hunger and famine in 19 countries caused by protracted crises and extreme weather events such as famine and droughts.
In his opening speech, da Silva highlighted that the number of hungry people worldwide has increased since 2015, calling on countries to translate their commitments in the fight against hunger into action. Delivering an invited lecture, Achim Steiner, Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), outlined the challenges and opportunities in developing “the agricultural economy of tomorrow” to support the transformation envisioned by the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
In his message to the Conference, Pope Francis said the current crises rise awareness “that hunger and malnutrition are not only natural or structural phenomena in determined geographical areas, but the result of a more complex condition of underdevelopment caused by the indifference of many or the selfishness of a few.” Lamenting a “lack of a culture of solidarity,” he reminded delegates that realizing every person’s right to be free of hunger and poverty depends on the duty of the entire human family to help those in need.
The 40th session of the FAO Conference was held from 3-8 July 2017 at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. [FAO Press Release Conference Opening] [UN Press Release] [Mc Dougall Memorial Lecture given by UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner] [Pope Francis’ Message] [FAO Press Release on Outcomes] [FAO Conference Website (includes further press releases on side events)]