Statement by Dr. Qu Dongyu - 105th Meeting of the Development Committee - April 22, 2022

Jul 19, 2026

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Statement by Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, delivered at the 105th Development Committee meeting on April 22, 2022. The statement addresses two priority topics: making debt work for development and ensuring macroeconomic stability alongside digitalization and development. It emphasizes solidarity with people affected by the war in Ukraine, highlights worsening food, fuel, and fertilizer costs, and calls for coordinated macroeconomic strategies to protect global food security. It also proposes repurposing agricultural support, targeting investments, improving trade transparency, and strengthening social protection and biosecurity measures.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

Statement by Dr. Qu Dongyu

Making Debt Work for Development

Macroeconomic Stability and Digitalization and Development

Proposals for Food Security, Investment, and Social Protection

Trade, Biosecurity, and Market Transparency

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors ofthe Bank and the Fund on the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries) ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH MEETING WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 22, 2022 DC/S/2022-0002 April 22, 2022 Statement by Dr. Qu Dongyu Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statement by Dr. Qu Dongyu Director General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 105th Meeting of the Development Committee April 22, 2022 Washington, DC I am grateful for the opportunity to share the perspective of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on two topics of importance for the Organization, namely Making Debt Work for Development, and Macroeconomic Stability and Digitalization and Development. Let me start by re-affirming that FAO joins the UN Secretary-General’s call to end the war in Ukraine, restore peace and protect people's lives. We express our solidarity with all the people suffering due to this crisis, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. FAO is supporting those directly affected by the war, as well as the world’s most vulnerable across the globe. Countries’ income per capita has shrunk, creating a cumulative loss to the global economy of more than USD 12 trillion over two years (2020-21), and setting back progress on reducing poverty. Historic emergency fiscal stimuli and debt relief measures have made it possible for countries to spend more than USD 16 trillion to keep their economies functioning. Recovery is complicated, not only due to the events unfolding in Ukraine and the Russian Federation, but also by rising food (including raw material for feed), fuel and fertilizer prices, which will add to the costs of producing food, as well as supply chain disruptions and the impacts of the climate crisis on agrifood systems. These shared vulnerabilities require pragmatic and coordinated macroeconomic strategies. To prevent a global food security crisis, we must ensure that global trading continues to function smoothly and openly. We must also repurpose agricultural support to transform global agrifood systems so that they nourish people sustainably, ensure decent livelihoods and protect the environment. Reallocating these resources contributes to economic growth and broader environmental and developmental outcomes, while also alleviating the pressure for more debt. In reallocating public spending, countries must exercise considerable fiscal responsibility. According to recent FAO studies, modest, yet well-prioritized and responsible public investments in productive infrastructure across agriculture sectors (i.e., 25 percent of GDP during 2022-2024) would result in higher GDP growth. FAO’s flagship reports testify that there is a strong link between a country’s socio-economic performance and its food security and nutrition achievements. Reducing hunger and poverty will foster more productive citizens, increase incomes and demand, boost productivity, reduce inequalities and increase tax revenues – contributing to further GDP growth. The UN Secretary-General convened the first meeting of a Steering Committee on Food, Energy and Finance in March. At FAO, we know that bringing food – as a basic human right – energy and finance together is key to ensuring a comprehensive approach for global stability and peace. As a specialized UN agency, we have a crucial role to play in all three areas. We are well aware that the challenges are complex, and we must ensure that food, energy and finance solutions do not come at the cost of our planet. FAO will actively support the Task Force on Food, alongside UN partners, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international financing institutions. To address the impacts of the war in Ukraine on global food security, FAO has develop

FAQs

What are the two main topics Dr. Qu Dongyu addresses at the Development Committee meeting?

He addresses making debt work for development, and macroeconomic stability and digitalization and development.

How does the statement describe the global situation affecting food security and development?

It highlights shrinking income per capita, cumulative economic losses, rising prices for food inputs and energy, supply chain disruptions, and climate-crisis impacts on agrifood systems.

What concrete proposals does FAO put forward in the statement?

It proposes support for soil mapping, targeted social protection plans, improved biosecurity measures to reduce disease spread, and strengthened market transparency and policy dialogue, including continued support for AMIS.

Jul 19, 2026

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