The opening session of the international Forum, during which the Kingdom is represented by Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations agencies in Rome, Youssef Balla, was attended by several Heads of State, high-level representatives, experts from several countries and UN agencies, as well as FAO’s Director-General, Qu Dongyu, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Themed “Good food for all, for today and tomorrow,” the Forum highlights innovation, science and investment by integrating concrete solutions and international cooperation initiatives to propose strategies that meet the world’s growing food needs.
This year’s event focuses on three pillars: global youth action, science and innovation, and the Hand in Hand Investment initiative. The debate around these themes aims to deepen reflection on innovative solutions to strengthen international cooperation in the agricultural field.
Major side events are also scheduled during this session, such as World Food Day and the Rome High-Level Dialogue dedicated to the “Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture,” which was launched on the sidelines of COP 22, held in Marrakech in November 2016.