By: Gyeongmin Park, KGGTF 2025 Youth Intern
On February 13, 2025, the KGGTF Youth Interns visited the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in the Republic of Korea (FAO PLO in ROK) to hear from experts on FAO’s mission, initiatives, and Korea’s role in global agricultural development.
Mr. Shengyao Tang, the Head of the FAO PLO, opened the session by emphasizing FAO’s critical role in global food security and agricultural transformation. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, FAO works with governments to develop sustainable food and agriculture solutions, spanning crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry. He highlighted the value of interns as “sunlight in the morning” in bringing fresh perspectives, then finished his talk by underscoring FAO’s commitment to sharing best practices with developing nations.
The session was then followed by Ms. Nara Lee, the Assistant FAO Representative, who provided an informative lecture on the historical context and works of the FAO. She started off with FAO’s strategic framework, known as the “Four Betters” - better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life – explaining that FAO’s work extends beyond food production to address nutrition, climate change, and sustainability, ensuring a holistic approach to global food security. In terms of the main platforms used, Ms. Lee explained that FAO supports member states through statistical databases, flagship reports, and policy guidance. It publishes resources such as the Food Price Index and the SOFO, SOCO, and SOFI reports, analyzing agricultural trends and food security. Also assisting in policymaking through the Parliamentarian League and Codex Alimentarius, FAO sets global food safety standards.
She then explained the key FAO initiatives, including the “One Country One Priority Product (OCOP)” program, which develops value chains for critical agricultural products, and the “Digital Villages Initiative (DVI)” that leverages technology to optimize farming and reduce food waste. These efforts are showcased at major FAO events like the “World Food Day” flagship events and the “Hand-In-Hand (HIH) Investment Forum.” As for FAO partnerships with Korea, Ms. Lee highlighted that the strong partnership reflects the country’s transition from an aid recipient to a major donor, now the ninth-largest contributor among FAO’s 196 member states. Since the establishment of the FAO Korea Partnership and Liaison Office, Korea has played a key role in fostering technical cooperation by organizing major events to facilitate knowledge exchange. Lastly, she stated that youth engagement is central to FAO’s mission, with programs such as poster contests, case competitions, and the World Food Forum, encouraging young professionals to contribute innovative solutions to food security challenges.
During the Q&A session, Mr. Junghyun Kim, Partnership Specialist, and Ms. Nara Lee addressed various topics on the role of digitalization in food loss reduction, sustainable livestock management in the Middle East, and concerns over corporate control of genetically modified seeds. They explained that FAO’s strategies continue to evolve in response to climate change, economic costs, and global conflicts, incorporating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic into its 2025 strategy. They closed the session by emphasizing the importance of raising questions on ‘sustainability’ throughout environment, social, and economic situations, along with the “three Cs (climate change, cost, and conflict)” to incorporate prevailing circumstances in FAO’s works.
Overall, the session provided valuable insights into FAO’s role in global food security, Korea’s contributions to agricultural development, and the role of climate action in shaping sustainable solutions. Emphasizing innovation, digitalization, and collaboration, it underscored the importance of adaptive strategies in addressing food systems challenges, and the critical role of youth engagement in driving inclusive and sustainable development.