English Section

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine destabilised global food security: Polish FM

10.05.2022 22:00
Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has destabilised global food security, Poland’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Polands Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau addresses a regional conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, in the central Polish city of Łódź on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.
Poland's Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau addresses a regional conference of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation, in the central Polish city of Łódź on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.PAP/Roman Zawistowski

Zbigniew Rau made the statement at a regional conference of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Polish state news agency PAP reported.

Addressing the event in the central Polish city of Łódź, he said that Poland "achieved a successful transformation" of its agricultural sector, making use of possibilities offered by the country's membership in international organisations, including the FAO.

Rau added: “Now we are willing to share our experience in agriculture and rural development with other countries of Europe and Central Asia gathered here today.”

'New challenges for agricultural sector'

Rau told the conference that food security gained special importance after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.

"New challenges for the agricultural sector are emerging and must be adequately addressed,” he said, warning that Russia's "unprovoked aggression against Ukraine destabilised global food security."

‘Food security is a key priority’

Rau also said that “food security is a key priority" for 2022 and beyond.

"Indeed, it is a potential crisis factor that can affect migration and push back the development progress made in recent decades,” he added.

“To strengthen the international community and facilitate development we need to bolster the global security system,” he urged.

Poland praised for progress in food production

Meanwhile, the FAO’s Director-General Qu Dongyu praised Poland’s growing importance in food production. 

He said that Poland has become a major agricultural market "and probably one of the most competitive regions in Europe for the future,” the PAP news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, Qu Dongyu met with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda.

The FAO’s regional conference for Europe runs in Łódź until Friday.

Tuesday was day 76 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAPfao.org