Background on Key Figures and Relevance
On Monday, Mexico’s Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Qu Dongyu convened a meeting at the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE) to discuss global food security and sustainable development challenges.
Julio Berdegué, Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, also participated in the meeting. The FAO was represented by Beth Crawford, Deputy Director-General, and Lina Pohl Alfaro, the organization’s representative in Mexico.
Qu Dongyu’s visit is part of a working tour to strengthen collaboration with Latin American countries amidst growing pressures on food systems due to climate change, international conflicts, and inequalities in food access.
Mexico and the FAO have a strategic alliance to promote sustainable agricultural policies, combat malnutrition, and encourage rural development – all of which are part of their joint agenda within the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Meeting Objectives and Key Points
- Strengthening Cooperation: The primary goal of the meeting was to bolster collaboration between Mexico and the FAO.
- Regional Analysis: The discussion focused on regional progress and challenges in food production, agricultural sustainability, and eradicating hunger.
- Strategic Alliance: Both parties aim to promote sustainable agricultural policies, combat malnutrition, and encourage rural development.
Meeting Participants
Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente was accompanied by Undersecretary Enrique Ochoa and Ambassador Laura Elena Carrillo, Mexico’s permanent representative to UN agencies based in Rome.
Context and Impact
As global food systems face increasing pressure from climate change, international conflicts, and unequal access to food, Mexico and the FAO’s collaboration becomes crucial. Their joint efforts aim to develop sustainable agricultural policies, reduce malnutrition, and foster rural development.
These topics are integral to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and Mexico’s strategic alliance with the FAO plays a significant role in advancing these objectives. By working together, both parties can address regional challenges and contribute to a more stable and food-secure world.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who participated in the meeting? The meeting was attended by Mexico’s Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Julio Berdegué, along with FAO representatives Beth Crawford and Lina Pohl Alfaro.
- What was the purpose of the meeting? The primary objective was to strengthen cooperation between Mexico and the FAO, analyze regional progress in food production and agricultural sustainability, and discuss challenges related to eradicating hunger.
- Why is this meeting important? This meeting is crucial as global food systems face mounting pressures from climate change, international conflicts, and unequal access to food. Mexico and the FAO’s collaboration is vital for developing sustainable agricultural policies, reducing malnutrition, and fostering rural development.
- What are the main topics of their joint agenda? Their joint agenda includes promoting sustainable agricultural policies, combating malnutrition, and encouraging rural development – all of which are essential to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
