technologies and digital logistics services can streamline agri-food
supply chains, and enable the necessary transparency for ensuring compliance with international standards. We have recently launched the Agrifood Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA), a global program – co-led by UNIDO and FAO – that works with countries to transform their agri-food systems through partnerships and SDG-linked investments into high- potential value chains that connect producers to processing and added value to end markets. This year, UNIDO and FAO will be jointly working in 10 African countries to develop a staple crops value chain to increase food security and showcase best practices.
action and, in doing so, create millions of new, decent jobs. UNIDO’s strategy in response to climate breakdown is maximizing synergies with priority areas such as clean energy, agribusiness development and food security, circular economy and biodiversity. UNIDO sees innovation as key to mitigating and adapting to climate change. Technological options for avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions must be further developed. At the same time, new schemes and approaches to climate adaptation must be adopted in agricultural production. UNIDO provides a platform for technology transfer, investment mobilization and climate partnerships to accelerate this process. OFQ : What are these innovations and technologies to create sustainable practices and improve agriculture systems? GM: There are an estimated 450 million people working in global supply chains. Approximately 190 million of them are women. These jobs, working in the factories, farms and packing houses that supply the world’s clothing, goods and food, offer a promise of economic independence. But the reality for millions of workers is excessive hours, often in difficult and unsafe working conditions, and wages that are not enough to make ends meet. We need fair global business practices and this requires companies to comply with human rights and environmental standards. Companies must identify, bring to an end, prevent and mitigate negative human rights and environmental impacts in the company’s own operations, those of their subsidiaries and their supply chains. With clean energy, we can power agro-industrial parks which are a vehicle for the structural transformation of the economy through the commercialization of the agricultural sector. In Africa,
UNIDO supports governments in the establishment of agro-industrial parks. We analyze the value chain, and deploy specialized services to target the weaker links of the chain including agricultural mechanization, modern processing technologies and the packaging of perishable products. As I said, we have the technologies. For example, digital technologies are making a difference. Traceability
UNIDO AND THE OPEC FUND UNIDO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a mandate to promote, dynamize and accelerate industrial development. The agency provides support to its 171 member states through four functions: technical cooperation; action-oriented research and policy- advisory services; normative standards-related activities; and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer. OPEC Fund Director-General Abdulhamid Alkhalifa (left) and UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller (right) signed a joint declaration in April 2023 to deepen their partnership in securing energy access and promoting energy transition. They also signed a US$1.5 million technical assistance grant agreement in support of the National Clean Cooking Transition Program in Madagascar.
OPEC Fund Director-General Abdulhamid Alkhalifa (left) and UNIDO chief Gerd Müller
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