Albanese Labor Government welcomes United Nations visit with Pacific pledge

The Albanese Labor Government has pledged $3.4 million to help Pacific countries engage with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to boost livelihoods and economic opportunities for our Pacific family, further support the FAO’s sustainable livestock initiatives, and to support FAO to further develop its standard setting activities.  

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Julie Collins today hosted Dr Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO, in Hobart on a five-day Australian visit by senior FAO officials ahead of the FAO Pacific Small Island Developing States meeting in Fiji.  

The agricultural sector is vital to Pacific economies and livelihoods, especially given the impact of climate change and pressures on food security.

The $3.4 million voluntary contribution from Australia will both support Pacific countries to benefit from FAO expertise and improve the FAO’s capacity to respond to shared Pacific priorities through collection of data and information on the region. 

It will also allow Australia to further support substantive work by the FAO on sustainable agricultural practices, including livestock, as well as its plant biosecurity and food standards setting activities. 

The pledge builds on Australia’s active engagement in the FAO – including by our Agricultural Counsellor in Rome – to represent our domestic agriculture sector on the world stage.  

Minister Collins highlighted the strong sustainability credentials of Australian producers in her meeting with Dr Qu, and the need for international recognition on how countries can approach sustainability across different environments.  

With 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union, the FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger, aiming to achieve food security for all people.  

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP: 

“I am proud to announce Australia’s $3.4 million voluntary contribution to the FAO, which will support its work on issues important to Australia and our shared Pacific region. 

“Australia is a strong supporter of the FAO’s work and, as a nation, we play an important role in providing food security by exporting around 70 per cent of our high-quality produce. 

“Our active and continued engagement in the FAO as the world’s leading agriculture body is crucial to shape global rules, standards and norms in the interests of Australia’s agriculture sector and Pacific priorities.”