Mehdi Eker campaigns for FAO Director-General position

Mehdi Eker, Turkey’s candidate for the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is conducting an international diplomatic campaign ahead of the 2027 elections. Eker has engaged with representatives from approximately 100 countries to secure support, noting that 193 UN member states will vote in the upcoming election.

Eker emphasizes that food security should be treated as a matter of global security rather than just an agricultural policy, as food shortages can drive migration and social instability. He highlighted the global disparity in food access, noting that while the world produces enough food for 11 billion people, 645 million people currently face hunger, 1.4 billion face obesity, and 2.3 billion lack adequate nutrition.

The candidacy, supported by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, aims to project Turkey’s food security vision onto the international stage, focusing on establishing international standards, providing technical support to developing nations, and combating global hunger.