Source: USDA news release
WASHINGTON, - U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Michelle Bekkering led the delegation -- on behalf of Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins -- to the 44th Session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference in Rome, delivering a clear message: international organizations supported by American taxpayers must deliver results that align with U.S. interests and directly benefit American farmers, ranchers, and producers.
During the Conference, the U.S. national statement was firmly delivered, echoing President Trump's vision and Secretary Rollins' commitment to prioritizing American farmers and ranchers.
"Today, the U.S. sees FAO at a crossroads," said Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering during the U.S. national statement to the FAO plenary. "One path is business as usual--more mandates, more meetings, more process, slow progress. The other path brings us back to basics and results--focusing on FAO's core mission and making a real and sustainable difference on the ground. When farmers and ranchers can produce more, move their goods more efficiently, and compete fairly, everyone benefits--from farm to table to globe."
In meetings with FAO leadership and international counterparts, Bekkering emphasized U.S. reform priorities and the need for results-based, science-driven leadership.
Alongside Chargé d'Affaires Scott Turner of the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, Bekkering discussed with FAO Deputy Director General Beth Bechdol how to better align FAO's efforts with the priorities of its largest contributor. In a focused meeting with FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, she stressed that FAO credibility depends on its use of the best available science, data and evidence.
The United States also met with Codex Secretary Sarah Cahill and underscored the importance of Codex Alimentarius to supporting American agriculture and fostering trade and encouraged more consistent communication on how international food safety standards benefit U.S. producers. The delegation also engaged the International Fund for Agricultural Development, meeting with Ronald Hartman, Director of Global Engagement, to push for increased collaboration with the American private sector in its global investments.
In bilateral talks with Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister Tom Rosser, Bekkering discussed joint efforts to defend transparent, evidence-based agricultural policy across multilateral settings. She welcomed Canada's alignment on key issues related to trade facilitation and regulatory coherence, reinforcing the importance of North American leadership on the world stage. Deputy Under Secretary Bekkering also met with Sweden's Vice Minister for Rural Affairs Daniel Liljeberg to strengthen relations while sharing concerns about EU trade-barriers including the EU Deforestation Regulation, and underscored that American farmers produce the safest, highest-quality food in the world and deserve full access to global markets.
Looking ahead, USDA will continue engaging with the FAO and U.S. interagency partners to advance reform priorities. This includes supporting the State Department's review of U.S. engagement with international organizations to ensure alignment with American strategic and economic interests.