Make the Four Betters “part of our daily life,” says 79th UNGA President Philemon Yang

Rome – Resilient agrifood systems are “agents of peace and prosperity” and foundational to the struggle against hunger, disease and violence, which humanity has yet to overcome, stated Philemon Yang, President of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, at the opening of 44th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Conference on Saturday.

In his presentation, Yang emphasized that food security involves more than just having enough food to eat; it is an integral and interconnected aspect of the UN’s three pillars: peace and security, sustainable development, and the safeguarding of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

He praised FAO’s vision of the “Four Betters,” which advocates for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, ensuring that no one is left behind. “We should make these Four Betters part of our daily life,” Yang asserted, who previously served as Cameroon’s longest-serving prime minister.

Yang also highlighted that agrifood systems represent the world’s largest economic network, influencing nearly every aspect of life on our planet. He urged all FAO Members to adopt a “problem-oriented” approach and show the resolve to make abundance accessible for all.

In his introductory remarks for the McDougall Memorial Lecture, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu commended Yang’s leadership at the UN General Assembly for emphasizing the principle that “peace is a prerequisite for food security, and the right to food is a basic human right.”

The McDougall Memorial Lecture honors the legacy of Frank Lidgett McDougall, an Australian agricultural expert who played a pivotal role in establishing FAO. This lecture is delivered at the beginning of each FAO Conference session, where all Members convene every two years to determine the Organization’s strategic priorities and programme of work and budget.

Conference Session begins

The 44th Session of the FAO Conference began on Saturday and will continue through 4 July.

Before the McDougall Memorial Lecture, Mabouba Diagne, Minister for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock of the Republic of Senegal, was elected by Members to serve as the Chairperson of the Conference.

“When I think about FAO, I think about food and also about global solidarity for a better world,” Diagne said. He noted that FAO estimates that 28.4 percent of the world’s 8.2 billion people, or 2.33 billion people, experience moderate to severe food insecurity, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action and innovative financing to help FAO mobilize additional resources.