FAO, 7 universities to create joint food research programs, studies

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) signed partnership agreements with the University of the Philippines Los Baños and six other universities and research institutions to assist governments to introduce policy reforms aimed at ensuring that all people have access to healthy diets and can make informed choices on nutritious food.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva stressed the key role played by academic and research institutions in the need for an increase in scientific evidence to inform the policies and actions taken by governments to combat malnutrition in all its forms.

He highlighted joint efforts with academic institutions at the recent Future of Food symposium.

“I would like once more to emphasize that FAO is a knowledge institution. We don’t do research, so we depend on you, on academia – we base our work on what you do. More and more, we would like to strengthen our partnership to do things together and to ensure mutual cooperation,” da Silva said.

The FAO chief’s remarks came on the first day of the Future of Food international symposium.

The signing by FAO of partnership agreements with seven universities and research institutions included the University of the Philippines Los Baños, American University of Beirut, the University of California, Los Angeles, the Future Food Institute, the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED), Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Nottingham.