Ambassador Matthew Wilson presented his credentials to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director General, Qu Dongyu, in Rome, today.
Ambassador Wilson, who is also Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), United Nations in Geneva and Vienna, and other International Organisations in Geneva, congratulated Director General Dongyu on his recent re-election and pledged Barbados’s continued support and partnership.
During their meeting, some critical issues were covered, including the importance of the support from FAO and its regional office in Barbados; the ongoing trilateral partnership with the Global Environment Facility; and the need to operationalise the Caribbean regional office’s letter of intent with the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation.
“The work that FAO undertakes in Barbados and the region is of critical importance. The climate crisis is transforming the way we produce, consume and trade and we need innovative investments and incentives to help our agriculture and industrial sectors embrace the circular economy. FAO is one of our frontier partners on this,” Ambassador Wilson stated.
Director General Dongyu highlighted the important focus that FAO is giving to small island developing states, and commended Barbados and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley for the advocacy around climate change, while also recognising the importance of Barbados investing in its indigenous agriculture and food industry.
Ambassador Wilson informed that consultations with the fisherfolk community were ongoing around the ratification of phase one of the Fisheries Agreement and that Barbados was keen to benefit from support in upgrading its fisheries management systems.
Other topics discussed were climate-smart agriculture; water management; addressing soil conservation; and working with Barbados on the blue economy, especially in upgrading the fisheries sector.
The two representatives also spoke about the fisheries subsidies’ negotiations ongoing at the World Trade Organization and the important role that FAO is playing as a lead partner in the newly established Fisheries Funding Mechanism Trust Fund.
On food security issues, the Ambassador highlighted the importance of FAO support in ensuring the CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 initiative was realised. This initiative is aimed at reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.
In addition to addressing food insecurity, he said there was also a need to focus on the types of food being grown and imported, given the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in the region.
Ambassador Wilson also presented Director General Dongyu with a new flag of Barbados to hoist outside the FAO headquarters.
Since 1978, FAO has been an important partner in Barbados’ drive to achieve its agricultural and marine development priorities, including natural resource management and climate change adaptation.