PAOLO DE CASTRO

CANDIDACY TO IFAD PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

14-15 February 2017

Candidacy to IFAD presidential election, 14-15 February 2017 PAOLO DE CASTRO

THE CANDIDATE

Paolo De Castro is 58 years old and society. On these topics he has published is currently Professor of Agricultural various essays, some of which are Economics and Policy at the University translated in several languages, such of Bologna. After having obtained as “The European agriculture and new the university degree in Agriculture global challenges” (Donzelli, 2010), and Food Sciences at the University “The politics of land and food scarcity” of Bologna, he completed a period of (Hearthscan Routledge, 2012), “Comida, specialization in food systems economics el desafio global” (Eumedia, 2015). at the Washington State University in Pullman (US). His academic career The scientific career of Professor Paolo has been full of awards, both nationally De Castro has been further enriched not and internationally. These include only by the participation in numerous two honorary degrees (in Agricultural international scientific committees, such Sciences and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cluj-Napoca (RO), and in Nutritional Sciences and Technologies at the University of Basilicata (IT)) and the Titulo de Gran Cruz de la Orden al Mérito Agrario y Pesquero Alimentario received from the King of Spain Juan Carlos I.

Professor Paolo De Castro is author of over 150 scientific publications: particularly mentioned are his scientific contributions on the issue of food security and the role of international trade in the development of modern

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as the Chairmaship of the Scientific Universal Exhibition and contributed Committee of the International Center to the drafting of the Charter of Milan. for Advanced Studies on Agriculture His commitment to the issues of food Mediterranean (CIHEAM), but also security and agricultural development by managerial roles, among which the is shown not only through the many presidency of the Institute of Economic contributions made in the legislative Studies Nomisma. work of the , but also by the recent initiative that he inspired and Paolo De Castro served for three coordinates: the Parliamentary Alliance times as Minister of Agriculture of his “Fight against Hunger”, established in country, and was vice-president of the collaboration with FAO and with other Committee on Agriculture and Agri- parliaments in the world, which engages food Production of the Senate of the a group of Members of the European Italian Republic. Between 2000 and Parliament to develop proposals and 2002 he was also special adviser to the actions to raise awareness and sharing president of the European Commission, on the theme of food security. Paolo Prof. . De Castro was also designated on December 2014 standing rapporteur for Paolo De Castro is a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural the since July Development on the Transatlantic Trade 2009. He chaired the Committee on and Investment Partnership with the Agriculture and Rural Development United States (TTIP). from 2009 to 2014, leading the European Parliament’s negotiating team during the The combination of scientific, managerial whole reform process of the Common and political experiences, coupled with Agricultural Policy for the 2014/2020 a deep knowledge of the international period. Re-elected in July 2014, Paolo De relations, has allowed Prof. Paolo De Castro is now president of the Socialists Castro to gain a detailed understanding and Democrats group in the Committee of the functioning of food systems and on Agriculture and Rural Development. on the issues of agricultural development. In 2014 he was designated permanent His competence is internationally rapporteur for EXPO Milano 2015; recognized and attested by the many in this role, Paolo De Castro has contributions made, both as a speaker encouraged the establishment of the and as an author, within the highest European Union steering committee international institutions dealing with that coordinated the EU activities for the food and agriculture.

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VISION

� The overarching framework of Paolo De Castro’s vision is given by the global covenants reached in 2015: The Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which underscores the importance of aligning private investments with sustainable development in a win- win approach. The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, foto: www.ifad.org which are in part peculiar to IFAD,, like connecting food to land tenure and, eventually, people to the planet promote the creation of inclusive for a sustainable prosperity. value chains. The Agreement on climate change, which puts forward a � Empowerment of rural poor, partnership for the sustainability of women, youth and indigenous our planet. people is a crosscutting driver of this agenda. � Smallholders remain key players for development, not only in agriculture. � In order to deliver these commitments, In order to pursue an inclusive rural IFAD should refine its strategic vision growth, it is necessary to foster in the wake of the recently launched productivity and sustainability, help strategic framework 2016 – 2025. In smallholders build greater resilience particular, special attention needs to be to market and climate shocks and paid to promote a global approach to

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food policy, characterized by a greater cooperation both within and between the policies and the institutions involved in food security and rural development.

� Priority should be given to enhance land tenure, promote forms of organization of the supply, ensure access to financial services and insurance schemes, provide smallholders with access to output markets, through leveraging on local � Social and cultural constraints storage systems and encouraging represent a very specific challenge, arrangements with other parts of which requires a greater and more the food chain to allow for an equal systematic integration of gender sharing of the trade benefits. considerations in the selection of the projects aimed at boosting inclusive � Promoting gender equality and rural and sustainable growth in rural women’s empowerment is essential to areas. realize a harmonized development. Indeed, the improvement stemming � IFAD is a development – and from greater women participation in inclusive-oriented International small-scale decision-making has been Financial Institution which has the widely proven. obligation to conceive, negotiate and offer more than ever performing financial products at the pace with our time, in the framework of its mandate. The appropriations that the Fund offers are able to leverage more resources from private investors, to which Paolo De Castro intends to devote a particular attention.

foto: www.ifad.org

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