Excellencies, distinguished delegates and experts, ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the UNIDO, I am very pleased to greet you at the Vienna Food Safety Forum. I want to especially thank the Government of Australia and the Standards and Trade Development Facility hosted by the WTO to co-organize this event with us.

Worldwide, regulators and the private sector are coming together to improve food safety outcomes for public health and trade. We urgently need to transform our global food system to sustainably feed nearly ten billion people by 2050. We are still facing the ongoing impact of COVID-19 pandemic, climate change AND conflicts around the world.

On the one hand, reduced public funding pushes authorities in many industrialized nations to innovate. On the other hand, less developed countries are still building their food safety systems. In these efforts, digitalization and data-driven solutions can be key to more sustainable industrialization. Technological solutions which are ethical and sustainable.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Around 800 million people globally suffer from chronic hunger and over 160 million children suffer from malnutrition. We are falling behind our SDG commitments. Everyone has the right to safe and nutritious food. Yet more and more people go to bed hungry. Nevertheless I say that a world without hunger is possible.

We are at a crossroads. This crossroads calls for action. More than ever before. To tackle climate change and end hunger, we need to act wisely. With proper guidance, states can develop and use more outcome-oriented standards. We must do this without creating even more burdens for less developed countries. Technology and knowledge transfer should be key in their economic transformation. However, the proper use of these technologies requires experience sharing among the public and private sector. These are just the first steps on a long road. But we must take these steps now. We need to have progress by innovation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Food safety is a public good and a shared responsibility. To remain responsible, we need to be also transparent. Digitalization and data-driven innovation can help countries and industry to make more informed decisions. These require modern educational programs, smart policies, and conducive regulations.  We need better scientific capacities in  the global trade regime.

Achieving these small results can be a great remedy for many global challenges. UNIDO is already helping its member states in this transformation. For example, working in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Senegal and Mali with local authorities to use new digital tools and technologies to make better informed decisions. As part of this we build their capacities, develop better policy frameworks and introduce innovative initiatives.

Distinguished delegates,

UNIDO stands ready to serve as a global facilitator in helping countries in their economic transformation. Working together, in partnership, we can reach a food secure and sustainable future.

Thank you so much.