UN food body official keen to cooperate with Turkey

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s representative in Turkey has said he is “very much keen” to cooperate with the Turkish government to promote UN values, his body’s expertise and knowledge.

"We will continue to do our work and to be professional in the areas we cover -- agriculture, food security, forestry, fishery, climate change, rural development. All of them are expertise of FAO where we are trying to be the best," Viorel Gutu told Anadolu Agency.

Gutu said he was eager to discover the country from a professional point of view through project partners and Turkish government in order to do his "best for Turkey".

He praised the country's diverse range of culture, rich history, beautiful nature, delicious food, and "extraordinary" friendly and hospitable people.

"Coming to Turkey in this position is definitely an honor for me. I am looking forward to explore the country from professional perspective," he said.

Gutu said he met Turkey's food, agriculture and livestock minister, and discussed the role of women in society and agriculture, the FAO-Turkey Partnership Program (FTTP), engagement with Syrian refugees, rural communities and agriculture-related businesses.

"We also agreed to spend a little bit more time discussing FTTP and priorities, and also how we can make it efficient and visible to have the effort of Turkish government and the countries where this resources will be invested," he said.

Mentioning that the Turkish government provided $10 million to FTTP for the second time, Gutu said they the program could include other countries such as Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan along with Central Asia.

"What is important to say here is that we would like to see this partnership not only with involvement of FAO expertise but definitely with Turkish expertise.

“I am very impressed of the high level of professionalism of the government, employees, officials," he said.

- Global food waste

About food waste, Gutu said despite enough food being produced in the world, 815 million people suffer from hunger, according to FAO's estimation.

He said one third of global food gets wasted, which is equal to approximately 1.3 billion tons yearly.

"There is a forecast that the global population will rise up to 9 billion in 2050. There is definitely [an] increasing demand in food.

“This is not only losses during production phase or harvesting or post-harvesting period. It is also about our style of life.”

He urged people to be more responsible and aware of food waste.

According to FAO and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s outlook, food prices are expected to remain at the same level in the next decade.

"Meat prices in Turkey went up 14 percent annually in 2017 higher than other areas," he added.

Gutu, a ex-representative of the organization in Tajikistan, began his duties in Turkey late February.

The Moldavian citizen also serves as the FAO's sub-regional coordinator for Central Asia.

Gutu also served as his country’s deputy minister of agriculture and food industry and led negotiations with EU and other donors to improve agriculture in Moldova.