FAO elects new Director General

Responding to the election of José Graziano da Silva as Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Luca Chinotti, policy advisor for Oxfam’s GROW campaign said: 

“Oxfam welcomes the election of José Graziano da Silva as new FAO Director General. Graziano has the commitment, expertise and skills needed to help transform our broken food system and make the shift towards a new agricultural future. We hope he will show the leadership to make the right decisions in his new post.”

“Graziano set three major goals in his election campaign - to eradicate hunger, to move towards a truly sustainable means of food production, and to fix the world food system. If he is to succeed governments must overcome past divisions, back this program, and ensure the FAO has the financial resources it needs to deliver it.”

“Graziano played an important role in setting up the successful Zero Hunger program in Brazil.  Brazilian public policies which support small holder farmers and recognize women’s rights to resources and access to land have produced impressive results. The Brazilian presidential advisory body on food security and nutrition has shown that effective institutions, with the participation of civil society, can help deliver food security. We hope that Graziano will advocate for these successful policies to be replicated at the global level.”

“Oxfam is looking forward to working with Graziano and a reinvigorated FAO to ensure everyone always had enough to eat.”