Add us as your preferred source on Google to see more of our content in Search.
Add to Preferred SourcesPope Francis called for advances in innovation and entrepreneurship to transform rural communities and eradicate malnutrition, stating that “science with conscience” was needed to help the world’s poor and hungry.
He made the call at the inaugural ceremony of the 42nd IFAD Governing Council which is being held at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters on February 14.
The world must “place technology truly at the service of the poor,” he said. “New technologies must not go against local cultures and traditional knowledge, but should be complementary and act in synergy with them”.
The pontiff also encouraged greater global collaboration in the fight against hunger.
“Today more than ever we have to join forces, achieve consensus, to strengthen our bonds. The current challenges are so intricate and complex that we cannot continue confronting them occasionally, with emergency resolutions,” he said.
He also encouraged those affected by poverty and hunger to be directly involved in decision-making “so that these people can be responsible architects of their own production and progress”.
“(Pope Francis’) presence always moves us, inspires us and strengthens us in the struggle for a juster and more supportive world,” FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva said in his remarks during the inaugural ceremony.
Conte thanked “all those working in the field, often in difficult situations, from the Rome-based agencies” meaning the three UN agencies hosted in Rome: FAO, IFAD and the World Food Programme. He said Italy is “proud to host the RBAs, now a clear hub for food security and sustainable agriculture in the world”.
Original source: FAO
Published on 14 February 2019