Director General of FAO, Dr QU Dongyu, joins the Global Panel
The Global Panel welcomes Director-General QU Dongyu in his new role of Panel Member
4th June 2020 – The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr QU Dongyu, has been appointed Member of the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition. Since the inception of the Global Panel at the 2013 Nutrition for Growth Summit in London, FAO has been an instrumental partner in promoting the Panel’s messages to increase access to healthy diets across the food system.
Dr QU Dongyu took on his role of Director-General in August 2019. He has a Ph.D in Agricultural and Environmental Science, and previously worked as the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China. His experience in the sector spans over the last thirty years. On his appointment to the role, Dr QU Dongyu highlighted some of the key food system challenges ahead including malnutrition, climate change-related risks to agriculture and natural resource depletion[1]. Dr QU’s appointment comes at a crucial time for the Global Panel, with the launch of the new Foresight 2.0 report scheduled for September 2020. The role of FAO will be key in furthering the eradication of malnutrition and the development of sustainable food systems.
In a statement, Dr QU Dongyu commented, “I am delighted to join the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition. FAO and the Global Panel share a common vision for transforming food systems – including the production, distribution and consumption of food – to make them more sustainable and environmentally friendly while providing healthy diets for all. Achieving this requires evidence and science-based approaches that are integral to shaping food and agriculture policies and improving nutrition.”
Speaking to Dr QU Dongyu’s achievements, Global Panel Co-Chair, Sir John Beddington, said, “I would like to express the Global Panel’s immense gratitude to the FAO for its contribution to our work. We congratulate Dr QU Dongyu on his appointment as Director-General of FAO and extend our appreciation as he joins the Global Panel. His expertise across food systems will be invaluable in encouraging policymakers to accelerate action.”
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Notes to Editors
About the Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition
The Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition was established in August 2013 at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in London. Funded by the UK Department for International Development, the Panel is an independent group of experts and leaders who hold or have held high office and who show strong personal commitment to improving nutrition. The Panel is co-chaired by His Excellency John Kufuor, (former President of Ghana) and Sir John Beddington (former UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser). The Panel aims to provide guidance to decision makers, particularly governments, to inform and promote agricultural and food policies and investment for improved nutrition in low and middle income countries.
Its influence is delivered through evidence-based technical and policy briefs, and Foresight Reports which are produced by the Global Panel Secretariat in London, Panel members and experts. These documents contain recommendations for policy interventions at a national and regional level. It also convenes high level events in partnership with governments and other stakeholders.
About FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO believes that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.
Contacts: secretariat@glopan.org; FAO media relations office: FAO-Newsroom@fao.org
[1] FAO, 2019. Qu Dongyu takes up post as FAO chief [Press release]. 1 August. Available at: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1203805/icode/