Thomson Reuters Foundation: Achieving Zero Hunger. A message to the incoming Director General of FAO
Mohammad Hossein Emadi, ambassador of Iran; Yaya Adisa Olaitan Olaniran, head of mission for Nigeria; Karla Samoya Ricari, ambassador of Guatemala; and Terri Sarch, ambassador of the United Kingdom, all permanent representatives to the United Nations Food and Agriculture agencies

“2019 is a pivotal year for global food security and agriculture development as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is set to elect its next director general. … FAO plays a critical role in fostering the international collaboration required to respond to [threats to food and agriculture security] and prevent more widespread hunger, but business as usual will not suffice. … To guide the 197-member state organization on collective action to deliver zero hunger, FAO requires a dynamic, performance-oriented leader with integrity and the expertise to build on recent reforms, work with other organizations, and make bold decisions underpinned by scientific evidence [and] robust monitoring of agricultural productivity. … With hunger on the rise and ever-evolving threats related to a changing climate, the upcoming election will shape the contributions FAO and its member states make in the coming decade. It is only through tackling these issues as a global community of nation states that we can construct a global food system that can respond to crises and support resilient and sustainable food production that keeps hunger at bay, improves nutrition in all countries, and leaves no one behind” (4/10).