Ireland secures seat on UN food and agriculture council

Ireland has been elected to the Council of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for the first time since 2013. The Council is the governing body of the FAO, which leads global efforts to combat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.

The election took place during the 44th Session of the FAO Conference in Rome. Ireland topped the poll in the vote to fill two vacant seats for the Europe and Central Asia region. The two-year term will see Ireland take part in setting the organisation’s strategic direction, policy and oversight.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, said the appointment reflects Ireland’s agricultural expertise and commitment to tackling global food insecurity. He pointed to the State’s Food Vision 2030 strategy and alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals as key strengths.

“Ireland looks forward to bringing a strong voice to the FAO Council and working alongside FAO members to achieve these goals,” he said. “The significance of Ireland being a member of the FAO Council is that it will enable us to help shape global food and agriculture policy, increase Ireland’s visibility within the UN system, and engage in high-level decision-making that supports sustainable development and multilateral cooperation.”

The Minister noted that Ireland has already funded FAO-led projects in Sudan and Ukraine, and recently joined the Global Network Against Food Crises as its only national member.

The election follows Minister Heydon’s attendance at the 6th African Union–European Union Agriculture Ministerial Conference in Rome, where he met FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. The discussions focused on coordinated global action to ensure food security and the transformation to sustainable agrifood systems.

Ireland’s recent international agricultural aid has included €440,000 for seed potatoes for 10,000 Ukrainian smallholder farmers, emergency livestock and seed support for conflict-affected communities in Sudan, and a $500,000 project in South Sudan aimed at protecting animals and improving water access for agro-pastoralist households.