China's grab for the UN‘s Food and Agriculture Organization | DW Documentary
DW Documentary・2 minutes read
Locust swarms devastated crops in Africa, with farmers using UN-approved insecticides. Concerns were raised about China's influence on the FAO, as toxic pesticides were delivered to the Global South, leading to health risks and fatalities.
Insights
- Concerns about China's influence within the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were raised by an insider, highlighting potential implications for decision-making processes and project approvals.
- The approval of toxic pesticides by the FAO for projects in developing countries like Zambia and Malawi, despite their banned status in regions like the EU, underscores challenges faced by smallholder farmers and raises significant health and environmental concerns in these regions.
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Recent questions
What caused crop devastation in Africa between 2019-2021?
Locust infestation
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Summary
00:00
China's Influence in UN FAO Raises Concerns
- Between 2019 and 2021, billions of locusts spread over parts of Africa, devastating crops.
- Farmers attempted various methods to save their crops, including insecticides from a UN organization.
- The UN organization also approved the delivery of other chemicals to Africa, not meant for locust control.
- An insider from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed concerns about China's influence.
- Qu Dongyu, the current Director-General of the FAO, is a key figure in the story, with ties to China.
- China's interest in the FAO is linked to food security and its historical famines.
- China's influence extends to FAO projects, such as a cattle vaccination initiative in Laos.
- Chinese officers within the FAO are monitored for political ideology and loyalty to China.
- The FAO approved the delivery of toxic pesticides to countries in the Global South, raising health and environmental concerns.
- Smallholder farmers in Africa face challenges with pesticide use, leading to poisoning cases and fatalities.
22:42
FAO's pesticide use raises toxicity concerns
- More than half of the population in Zambia and Malawi work in agriculture.
- Pesticides like paraquat, banned in the EU for toxicity, are sold in pesticide shops in Zambia and Malawi.
- The FAO approves pesticides like paraquat for its projects, despite their toxicity.
- A study in 2020 found 1.6 million pesticide poisoning cases in Europe, 8 million in South America, and 115 million in Africa annually.
- The FAO's Hand-In-Hand Initiative aims to connect partners with developing countries for investment plans.
- The FAO hosted an investment forum in Rome in October 2022 for countries to present potential projects.
- In São Tomé and Príncipe, the FAO supported an investment project for the fishing industry and tourism.
- The FAO's partnership with CropLife International and Syngenta raised concerns about neutrality and pesticide use.
- Qu Dongyu was re-elected as the FAO Director-General for a second term, with Chinese influence being a significant factor.
