The 42nd Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Conference was launched virtually on June 14. In light of the theme of “Agri-Food Systems Transformation,” delegates shared their experiences, discussed solutions, and called for cooperation. Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, attended the conference and delivered a video speech. Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General, also participated.

Minister Tang said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to food and agricultural production, and always gives top priority to food security. Positive results have been attained in increasing grain production through soil conservation and technological progress. Going forward, China will employ more effective measures to increase its grain output comprehensively, deepen supply-side structural reform in agriculture, and promote the modernization of agricultural value chains and supply chains. China aims to build a resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, and green-oriented climate-smart agriculture, so as to help realize China’s peak carbon emission and carbon neutrality targets.

Minister Tang put forth four proposals for propelling the transformation of agri-food systems: 1) strengthen policy dialogues, support FAO initiatives, push for agricultural infrastructure projects, and work together to improve the inclusiveness and resilience of global agri-food systems; 2) further the integration of agriculture and S&T, develop and introduce quality varieties, and accelerate the development of digital agriculture, so as to reduce costs, improve quality and increase efficiency; 3) formulate laws, advance technology, and organize farmer education at a faster pace to effectively reduce food loss and waste throughout the industrial chain; and 4) keep trade flowing, and jointly safeguard the security and stability of global food supply chains as the world adopts regular COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Heads of delegations from 194 member states participated in the conference.