FAO is the custodian of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, “Zero Hunger”, which is to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”. Food insecurity has become a pressing issue for all countries in the world, with conflict being the main driver behind rising global hunger and malnutrition rates, worsened by climate change and Covid-19.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister McConalogue said: “I am delighted to welcome Director General QU to Ireland and to have the opportunity to speak with him on global food security, especially in the context of ongoing conflict, including in Ukraine. We also shared with him our experiences in developing our ten-year agri-food strategy, Food Vision 2030. Food Vision 2030 focusses on “Sustainable Food Systems” and recognises the international dimension of food and agriculture policy. We have a strong relationship with FAO and look forward to continuing to support food systems transformation to achieve a world without hunger by 2030”.
Director General QU Dongyu said: “Food is a basic human right. We must learn from the history lessons of Ireland and the country’s leading role in ensuring food security at global level”.
The Director General also had a meeting with Tom Arnold, Ireland’s special envoy on food systems, who chaired the Food Vision 2030 process. The visit of Director General QU, who was accompanied by senior officials from FAO, was facilitated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
