DA exec 1st Filipino to lead UN FAO commission

By Marita Moaje, Philippine News Agency

FILE: FIRST. Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning Paz Benavidez II, the elected chairperson of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) in this undated photo. The DA said on Tuesday (April 1, 2025) that Benavidez’s election underscores the Philippines’ growing leadership in international agricultural and biodiversity conservation efforts. (Photo: Department of Agriculture)

MANILA – Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning Paz Benavidez II has been elected chairperson of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), making history as the first Filipino to hold the position.

The Commission is the only permanent intergovernmental body of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) dedicated to biological diversity for food and agriculture, and focuses on policies for the sustainable use, conservation, and equitable sharing of these essential resources.

In a news release on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said Benavidez’s election during the commission’s 20th session in Rome, Italy held March 24 to 28, underscores the Philippines’ growing leadership in international agricultural and biodiversity conservation efforts.

He called her appointment a major achievement not only for the department but for the entire country as well.

“This is a very proud moment for the DA family. Assistant Secretary Benavidez’s election as the first Filipino to head the Commission speaks volumes not only about her personal achievements but also the wealth of talent within the DA,” he said.

The commission is responsible for shaping global policies on conservation, sustainable use, and equitable distribution of these resources to enhance food security and climate resilience.

Benavidez will serve a two-year term, concluding at the 21st session of the CGRFA in 2027.

The CGRFA was created in 1983 to address plant genetic resources. Today, it includes 179 member states and the European Union, highlighting its global importance in shaping sustainable agricultural practices.