José Graziano da Silva
Encyclopedia
José Graziano da Silva (born November 17, 1949) is an American
-born Brazil
ian agronomist
and writer. As a scholar, he has authored several books about the problems of agriculture in Brazil
. Between 2003 and 2004, Graziano served in the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
cabinet as Extraordinary Minister for Food Security, being responsible for implementing the Fome Zero
program, which took 28 million people out of the national poverty line during the 8 years of the Lula administration. On June 26, 2011, Graziano was elected as the new Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), becoming the first Latin American ever to do so. His term will last from January 2012 to July 2015.
town of Urbana
. His parents were Brazilians of Italian
origin (from the Calabria
region). Therefore, he has triple citizenship
: American (by birth), Italian, and Brazilian.
's Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz
. He would also earn an MBA from that same institution in 1974, after presenting a dissertation about the distribution of wealth
in Brazil. He would receive his doctor's degree from the Campinas State University
in 1980, becoming a professor of Agricultural Economics in this same institution. He would also later receive a post-doctorate degree from the University of California
and from the University of London
's Institute of Latin American Studies
.
program, one of the main points of the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
campaing to the presidency. On late 2002, after Lula da Silva became President-elect, Graziano was appointed by him as the Extraordinary Minister for Food Security. From January 1, 2003 to January 23, 2004, he served as head of that body, being responsible for implementing the Fome Zero
program, which took 28 million people out of the national poverty line during the 8 years of the Lula administration. On January 2004, Lula created the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger to absorb the functions of the Extraordinary Ministry, naming Patrus Ananias as head of the newly created Ministry. After this, Graziano became a special advisor to the Presidency of the Republic.
On March 2006, Graziano became the Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), and its regional representative for Latin America
and the Caribbean
. During his tenure, Graziano got the countries of Latin America to commit to eradicate hunger by 2025. He also promoted a program regarding rural issues, which defends the strengthening of institutions and public policies aimed at achieving a comprehensive and inclusive development in rural areas.
On 2011, Graziano launched his candidacy for Director General of the FAO. He was elected on June 26, 2011, during the agency's 37th conference in Rome
after receiving 92 of the 180 votes on a second ballot. He beat out former Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Ángel Moratinos
to replace Jacques Diouf
, whose 18-year tenure prompted a change in the agency's rules to set term limits. There were four other candidates in the first ballot: Franz Fischler
(Austria
), Indroyono Soesilo (Indonesia
), Mohammad Saeid Noori Naeini (Iran
), and Latif Rashid
(Iraq
). Graziano's term as Director General of FAO will begin on January 1, 2012 and end on July 2015.
Oxfam
welcomed Graziano's victory, saying he had the expertise and commitment to "transform our broken food system and make the shift toward a new agricultural future". The United States also welcomed Graziano's election, stressing the need for continued reform and a push for sustainable agricultural development, greater access to nutritional crops and more opportunities for women and small-scale farmers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian agronomist
Agronomist
An agronomist is a scientist who specializes in agronomy, which is the science of utilizing plants for food, fuel, feed, and fiber. An agronomist is an expert in agricultural and allied sciences, with the exception veterinary sciences.Agronomists deal with interactions between plants, soils, and...
and writer. As a scholar, he has authored several books about the problems of agriculture in Brazil
Agriculture in Brazil
Brazil is endowed with vast agricultural resources. There are two distinct agricultural areas. The first, composed of the southern one-half to two-thirds of the country, has a semitemperate climate and higher rainfall, the better soils, higher technology and input use, adequate infrastructure, and...
. Between 2003 and 2004, Graziano served in the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
cabinet as Extraordinary Minister for Food Security, being responsible for implementing the Fome Zero
Fome Zero
Fome Zero is a Brazilian government program introduced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2003, with the objective to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty in Brazil.-Contents of the program:...
program, which took 28 million people out of the national poverty line during the 8 years of the Lula administration. On June 26, 2011, Graziano was elected as the new Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO), becoming the first Latin American ever to do so. His term will last from January 2012 to July 2015.
Biography
Graziano was born on November 17, 1949 in the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
town of Urbana
Urbana, Illinois
Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....
. His parents were Brazilians of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
origin (from the Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
region). Therefore, he has triple citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
: American (by birth), Italian, and Brazilian.
Education and academic career
Graziano graduated as an agronomist in 1972, after attending University of São PauloUniversity of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
's Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz
Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz
The Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz is a unit of the University of São Paulo involved with research, teaching and extension of services in agriculture, animal husbandry, agricultural and related sciences. The ESALQ main campus, located at Piracicaba, has six undergraduate and...
. He would also earn an MBA from that same institution in 1974, after presenting a dissertation about the distribution of wealth
Distribution of wealth
The distribution of wealth is a comparison of the wealth of various members or groups in a society. It differs from the distribution of income in that it looks at the distribution of ownership of the assets in a society, rather than the current income of members of that society.-Definition of...
in Brazil. He would receive his doctor's degree from the Campinas State University
Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Universidade Estadual de Campinas is one of the three public universities of the Brazilian state of São Paulo, along both USP and UNESP....
in 1980, becoming a professor of Agricultural Economics in this same institution. He would also later receive a post-doctorate degree from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
's Institute of Latin American Studies
Institute of Latin American Studies
The Institute of Latin American Studies was set up in 1965 at the University of London, with the objective of providing postgraduate level teaching and a focus for research on the literature, history, politics and economics of Latin America and the Caribbean.In August 2004 the ILAS merged with the...
.
Minister for Food Security and career at FAO
On 2001, Graziano coordinated the formulation of the Fome ZeroFome Zero
Fome Zero is a Brazilian government program introduced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2003, with the objective to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty in Brazil.-Contents of the program:...
program, one of the main points of the Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , known popularly as Lula, served as the 35th President of Brazil from 2003 to 2010.A founding member of the Workers' Party , he ran for President three times unsuccessfully, first in the 1989 election. Lula achieved victory in the 2002 election, and was inaugurated as...
campaing to the presidency. On late 2002, after Lula da Silva became President-elect, Graziano was appointed by him as the Extraordinary Minister for Food Security. From January 1, 2003 to January 23, 2004, he served as head of that body, being responsible for implementing the Fome Zero
Fome Zero
Fome Zero is a Brazilian government program introduced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2003, with the objective to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty in Brazil.-Contents of the program:...
program, which took 28 million people out of the national poverty line during the 8 years of the Lula administration. On January 2004, Lula created the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger to absorb the functions of the Extraordinary Ministry, naming Patrus Ananias as head of the newly created Ministry. After this, Graziano became a special advisor to the Presidency of the Republic.
On March 2006, Graziano became the Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
(FAO), and its regional representative for Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
. During his tenure, Graziano got the countries of Latin America to commit to eradicate hunger by 2025. He also promoted a program regarding rural issues, which defends the strengthening of institutions and public policies aimed at achieving a comprehensive and inclusive development in rural areas.
On 2011, Graziano launched his candidacy for Director General of the FAO. He was elected on June 26, 2011, during the agency's 37th conference in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
after receiving 92 of the 180 votes on a second ballot. He beat out former Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Ángel Moratinos
Miguel Ángel Moratinos
Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé is a Spanish diplomat and politician, a member of the Socialist Workers' Party and member of Congress where he represents Córdoba....
to replace Jacques Diouf
Jacques Diouf
Jacques Diouf is a Senegalese diplomat with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He has been serving as Director-General of FAO since January 1994...
, whose 18-year tenure prompted a change in the agency's rules to set term limits. There were four other candidates in the first ballot: Franz Fischler
Franz Fischler
Franz Fischler is an Austrian politician. He was the European Union's Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries ....
(Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
), Indroyono Soesilo (Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
), Mohammad Saeid Noori Naeini (Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
), and Latif Rashid
Latif Rashid
Doctor Abdul Latif Rashid is the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources under the government of Nouri al-Maliki. He previously served as Minister of Water Resources under the Iraqi Transitional Government and as Minister of Irrigation under the Iraqi Interim Government. Dr Rashid was formerly a...
(Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
). Graziano's term as Director General of FAO will begin on January 1, 2012 and end on July 2015.
Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
welcomed Graziano's victory, saying he had the expertise and commitment to "transform our broken food system and make the shift toward a new agricultural future". The United States also welcomed Graziano's election, stressing the need for continued reform and a push for sustainable agricultural development, greater access to nutritional crops and more opportunities for women and small-scale farmers.