80 Years Strong Celebrating People, Purpose And Progress As One FAO
19 December 2025, Rome: As the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) commemorates its 80th anniversary, the milestone offers an opportunity to celebrate its people, reaffirm its purpose and highlight the progress made in building a more dynamic and unified Organization, Director-General QU Dongyu said today as he opened the FAO Employee Recognition Awards ceremony.
An Organization young-at-heart, yet firmly rooted in its mandate, has never been more relevant. “The world needs an FAO that continues to lead in technical expertise based on science and innovation, evidence and data,” Qu noted.
Strength in collaboration and diversity
Over 600 employees have been honoured since the introduction of the Employee Recognition Awards in 2019. Today, more were celebrated across 94 nationalities and 82 duty stations.
The Director-General recognised 200 individual awardees – 100 young and 100 young-at-heart – and 20 FAO teams across divisions, offices, and field locations for their outstanding achievements in innovation, knowledge sharing, operational effectiveness and efficiency, teamwork, and diversity, inclusion, and gender equality in the workplace.
During the Year25 ceremony, Qu presented medals to 41 colleagues who have dedicated 25 years of continuous service to FAO. He encouraged these colleagues to share their experiences and lessons with younger generations, and to learn from one another.
Historic firsts at FAO
The anniversary year also reflected a period of transformation and renewal. FAO unveiled new spaces that strengthen its identity and engagement, including the FAO Museum and Network, the new FAO gardens, and a new entrance and parking building. These additions reflect an Organization that honours its history while shaping its path forward.
In the lead-up to the World Food Forum, FAO held its first Global Exhibition, “From Seeds to Foods,” extending its presence beyond headquarters and engaging wider audiences. On World Food Day 2025, FAO welcomed Pope Leo XIV to headquarters for the first time, where he underscored the importance of global cooperation, peace and food security.
The Director-General noted that FAO is looking boldly ahead, with the ambition of becoming the first fully digital UN agency. Artificial Intelligence is now being applied to improve the way the Organization works, including the introduction of its first virtual colleague, Ms FAO AI, who supports staff in working more efficiently and effectively.
Collaboration continues to drive FAO’s progress. The Third Global Working Conference of FAO Representatives in Cairo, once again provided a vital platform to strengthen teamwork and reinforce the ONE FAO spirit across the globe.
Drivers of progress
The Director-General praised FAO colleagues as the engines for implementing FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–31 and the Four Betters, encouraging them to continue working, thinking, and learning together to turn it into concrete action with tangible results.
Looking ahead to 2026, Qu welcomed the Year of the Horse in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. “The Horse is characterized by energy, enthusiasm and drive forward,” he said, calling for faster, more efficient action by FAO to continue delivering impact at scale as the Organization moves into its next chapter.
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