for the americas new power couples made sure the victory was c. with the case, that's a up to date. next, on the w a documentary examining china is rolled and leading the lens of food and agriculture organizations. that's next. more wellness. the company. yeah. a good do these do for fun via do gravitational waves squeeze. i bought it. how do i need a drums for the 10 feet? and what's the perfect kid for approx side? find the on says get with dw signs on the picked up channels. the it started as just

a cloud. then the sky grew dark. they had arrived. between 20192021. billions of locusts spread in great waves over parts of africa. very quickly eating the field, spare the farmers tried everything they could to save their crops. the then came in fact to science from among others, a you in organization they help to subdue the plaque the

but we have learned that the same un organization approves the delivery of other chemicals to africa. pesticides not to be used for competing locusts or other natural disasters. can either do you see this during your time? no. no, no. this is an absolutely shocking. makes joke. yes, the it shoots you, my guess is this, that of use in the city is 3 to 3. wow. when court cases day this film shows how the united nations food and agriculture organization has changed. how do we know an insight or has given us the details? i believe that china is using the organization for its own purposes. the

as of midnight, it was the lowest point. months of research took us to 4 continents to countries like panama, spouse, malawi and zambia. the, the story begins in rome at the s a o, the united nations food and agriculture organization. 2 the employee wanted to expose how the organization and was increasingly serving the interest of one of its

members, states china the after much discussion the whistle blower agreed to meet with us on condition of anonymity. the. this is why we did not film them at home, but at another location, we wondered if they would really come to this meeting. okay, what if they ever do then say that just that they are on their way of speaking with us meant they were seeing their job, but also i hope they still want to do this and then they arrived the to protect them. we're having a voice actor, repeat what they told us about why you were speaking with us. a lot has changed in the last 4 years. i believe the china is using the organization for its own

purposes. mainly for geopolitical purposes, an interest the f a o has several core mandates. but 1st and foremost, it converts hunger to this end, it carries out analysis for efficient and sustainable agriculture. it develops crop protection and food quality standards as well as agriculture and nutrition strategies. the organization primarily advises countries in the global south. i 1st started working for the fail because i wanted to play a positive role in eating development and cooperation. i've always been very interested in agriculture, but also a nutrition and food policy. and i thought i could contribute

a little to improving the global situation on the inside or is one of 3000 f, a o employees, part of one of the largest specialized united nations agencies comprising 194 nations and the european union with its funding coming from member states, a considerable share comes from germany, who contributed more than $100000000.00 in 2021 alone. this makes germany, one of the largest donor countries are inside or has had concerns for some time. i've had this since from the 1st day to arrived. something didn't feel right, which added up over time until it all didn't make sense anymore. something here is

definitely off to don't you? is the current director general of the f a o. and the main character in this story he began his career in beijing, is chinese academy of agricultural sciences in the eighty's. in 2015, he became deputy minister of agriculture and the chinese government in 2019 china, nominated to for the post of director general of the f. a o. and he was elected to the position by delegates permits member states. juliet truck now represented germany at the time obviously a course of why is the f i o relevant to to as a global plan today. uh well, i live on the home escape likes the because food has to be interested in what we

need most advice. i mean that is what the f a o is about as the and why internationally irrelevant intent. that's the amount of evidence. in spring 2019, there were 5 candidates and the running for the post of director general of the fail from china, india, cameroon, georgia, and france. then the candidates from camera roon and india withdrew from the race just prior to the election. china had for given nearly $80000000.00 of camera rooms debt june 22nd 20191 day before the election. julia block, now, was there one done by doesn't seem to know was this rob, at the saw situation in rome? i why? because it was so clear who the favorite had to be love. i would have probably

designing the french candidates managed by that's on the susan 3 candidates were left those from france, georgia. and to don't you from china, but a fortune funding. then she made a session kindly that not longer my job to this by, during the chinese candidates presentation. i came to the conclusion that honestly he didn't care about winning that ago. he didn't expect to, in an uncomfortable on that it would be decided behind the scenes. this does this one is that i get the feeling. we are pins only gimme recognized later on because then that, that we had been playing by different rules. and this, what am, if it went to hit missing cause the should be it some delegates were an easy, usually a truck. now remember, then what are some climate station mentioned? and i became clear how much money had been spent in the run up to the trade of

place. tom all us, what great trips have been provided for the ambassadors and that families partisans to them. they didn't fly economy, oklahoma, i set missed economy. other rumors also made the rounds as long as it kept it on the search before i'm invited again, if it was the saved, it came out that the african countries in particular had been lightly off to take photos of the ballots in the voting. the concise as a result, telephones were banned from the voting booths. the f o member states voted and the balance were counted after the 1st round, the dodger, gina, the china garnered

a 108 boats to became director general of the f. a o. have a very good effort to my motherland, resolved to 40 years of a successful reform and the open door policy. me that was the lowest point. the organization seemed important to china, but why? we asked all right, the old. they are an expert on chinese foreign policy. why is china interested in the f a o n nibble? it's actually in the metric some time. for the 1st and foremost, thoughts apply a central to the chinese government's domestic security. i know for the english ahead. so china itself is known very, very severe funding firsthand of them. i know feels like most of whom us know what

in the 19 fifties and sixties china experienced one of the worst famines in history . millions of citizens died. the chinese government has prioritized food security ever since. you cannot find the government provided economically for the people and in return were able to stay in power. they insured an economic up turn so that the people thrive. the children are better off than their parents. like you, that was all part of the deal and of course and yes, and are we still blower thinks the chinese government is using the f a o for this 2 countries are not actually allowed to decide exactly what money should be spent on or in which country, but in china is case, this is different for certain projects. the chinese ministry of agriculture gives direct instructions for both project planning and implementation. if you ask

colleagues or superiors about it, they say that's just how it is in china, or is this true? during our research, we came across a project on the f, a, a website in northern allows, 40000 head of cattle were to be vaccinated before they could be exported to china. the program was financed by the chinese ministry of agriculture. the we were sent data from the as a oh and spent months analyzing it. we found the capital vaccination project in laos with an interesting note. the project is in keeping with the one build one road initiative. that is, the new silk road. china is massive initiative launched in 2013 internet

sonata. let's see, aim is to realign international relations, trade routes, and connectivity. let's and ultimately to reshape the world so that china occupies a more central and more powerful position on visor wishing i bought. some of the most important countries are those surrounding china, and that's because it has to go through them. you know, if it can't go through them, china will face a major obstacle and they'll have to 940 thanks to a major built and road project. tiny louse is now connected with china via the new railroad line, built by its neighbor. opened in 2021. it takes just under 4 hours to get from the capital vention to the chinese border, some 400 kilometers away the . the new rail connection allows the simple transport not only of people,

but also grain, raw materials, or cattle from neighboring countries into china. but the rail line was expensive. laos is now deeply in debt to china and is on the verge of national bankruptcy. the out. meanwhile, china is aggressively promoting the rail line the china is trying to expand its influence in the world, including within un organizations. the data contained information on specific people in the field. at work we've nicknamed them spice, that officers are paid by the respective as a member states is not unusual in itself. but there was something striking about

the chinese officers. some are paid by what is known as the china scholarship council. we looked at the website and found a job posting for the f l. it said that the political ideology of applicants was strictly monitored. applicants had to undergo further training in patriotic values, and had to report regularly to the chinese embassy. the primary loyalty is owed to the chinese state, and that takes precedence over all other obligations. are all other loyalties that you might possibly have to keep? newman, somebody french economist jones, back god has long been observing the f a o. he points to another group of people.

yeah. well, who the best and as a fellow, if you don't say so, every is the seo stop for the big which is funded through the funds from the national buttons tool. and then they're all the consultants involved, fairly so many observers and they don't really recorded a socket. you're more comfortable. it's not transparent at all. to see the sequel sheet though, it didn't have the loss of these consultants, all the chinese consultants with chinese interns and so on because the discount only is consultants to building up no, actually collecting information goes to be compiling analyses please. russell must show you cause and so the facts of influencing the discourse as to taking prices of the fit need this quote, the sewing and something else struck us. this is the organization chart. we choose the top 2 and his deputies or at the top of the organization chart with the directors immediately below. the 2 chinese directors at

the time of choose election had grown to $61.00 newly appointed director shaw senior. when had joined the chinese government in 2001 since 2021, he has led the f a o department responsible for pesticides we drove to ban switzerland to meet with charles predecessor hon dryer. who now works in public administration. as a subsidy. so we showed him documents and data from the f a o. does his chuckle, 11, please. this is unbelievable. it's almost beyond comprehension. these are dangerous substances because these chemicals are really toxic,

not just for the environment to turn off, but to humans to being destination. did you see this during your time? no, no, no, no 9. how's it? i own some chemicals were certainly used in my time. oh, so it would have been done that was so dangerous and i'll put down what this is shocking up on those on this. so this is absolutely shocking. so key infinity trace to key and the documents showed more than $300.00 individual pesticide shipments according to our analysis. the f. a o headquarters in rome issued permits for these shipments between 202020. 23. to use these pesticides as part of f, a o projects and countries of the global. so the key and it took some folks, i'm free to submit the quote, brand new for 12 parents and malachi, and see that these insecticides have been used to come by locust infestation. and but the data also list substances that are not used against locusts rather

pesticides used in everyday agricultural work. on the quote of these hub besides a seat to go after c r o clock to these we'd kenneth 0. very talk, say, unable been binding the folks in the football, the 2 of them desirous done system, most frequently benefit substance. it's a fungus site that has also been bound to use even puts no hope of a boat. di room has been banned in europe, but the f a o approved its delivery to numerous countries in the global south. most of shipments have gone to africa. been monetized during my tournament because we conscientiously trying to keep the risk as small as possible 9. so tend to keep the use of such

a substances to make an absolute minimum drone, but this is a really astonishing fitness. we also showed the data analysis to pesticide expert keith tyrrell, who sits on several f, a o committees. these chemicals are dangerous. they should not be being used by small hold. the palm is in the global science with limited training, limited access to personal protective equipment, limited oversight, and listed, let's face it, limited access to health care as well. so i'm, i am quite shocked to see an organization like promoting these dangerous chemicals in the following systems. the industry often argues that the pesticides are not dangerous if the prescribed protective measures are in place. but in africa, this is often precisely the problem zambia in

mid june, we met with small farm owners to protect their cabbage from insects. they mix up a pesticide cocktail at least they wear rubber boots, though not always when it's $35.00 degrees celsius in the fields. we learned that many of them don't even understand the safety instructions when it comes to visual of poisoning. yes, we've had the experiences. i want that for his own name because we sure didn't sticker on the right me. yes, definitely. you will have some challenges with the game because pesticide poisoning is a major problem in africa. we travel to a hospital in the long way in neighboring malawi, head physician, patrick espo,

described his experiences as a hospital, as we have seen, issued the number of cases reciting from this study use in the past 3. it's 323 is our goal. wow. so when a good time, while i cases that many here are threatened by pesticide poisoning more than half of the population and zambia and malawi, work in agriculture. we went into one of the pesticide shops that appear on every street corner. much of what is for sale here. pair a clock, for example, is banned in the you for being to toxic the so the fact that the f a o approves pesticides like pare quite as part of its own projects is surprising.

so the idea that f i o is delivering power required is, is beyond comprehension. there is no excuse for yes, i have to be providing power across. this will hold the following systems with levels of poisoning all 40 percent plus. a study published in 2020 found around $1600000.00 cases of pesticide poisoning per year in europe and $8000000.00 in south america. but in africa, there were $115000000.00 per year, even though significantly fewer pesticides are used on this continent. then in other parts of the world, the why does the f a o approve the use of pesticides that are banned in europe due to

their toxicity for its own on site projects? especially when it stresses its commitment to a special program aiming to move away from dependence on pesticides. the f a o left all our questions about specific pesticides and answered but we found a possible explanation. the new york in september 2019 she had just taken office on the sidelines of the united nations general assembly. the director general held a breakfast, meeting with representatives from major food and agricultural companies. here to present it is new program called the hand in hand initiative.

the hand in hand, and as a t z, so it's on demand, is to don't use central initiative. i'm too much making is it's the most important element. doctors can lifting partners with developing countries possible. the f, a o's hand in hand initiative, has the stated aim of helping countries in the global south to develop project investment plans and supplies the countries with a platform to search for potential investors. the, according to you, an expert max auto bowman. this approach clearly bears chinese hallmarks. does this conceptual sent us a meant? this mutual benefits is a very interesting central principle of chinese foreign development policy. let me take a peek on so development aid is not an obligation. me to think of but a mutual benefits calculation for both sides benefits of books and costs the

recipients. i'm the investor, i don't want that came up in october 2020 to the f. a o hosted an investment for him in room. welcome to the 1st time you find investment. for me. this is a dream come true, lose something that evicted you know, if they feel is taught, it seems that 1st they hear, i have to fail. the hand in hand initiative had become one of the director general, choose most important projects that do not have a hyundai, hon. some all the implementation of a national lead. and the national own basis program is the ex center. the food is system is transformation by your right to get a poverty s b g long and it has

a undermined new jersey. it s b g 2. as we do so, you know, credit this during this event several countries presented potential investment projects among them. so to me and principi, a small island nation of the west african coast, we looked at their project involving the fishing industry, new ports and tourism for which the f l could match up potential investors with the government. but we realized that it could also concern completely different interests. we decided to take a look at the democratic republic of so to me and principi is a lush island nation. far removed from the tourist hustle and bustle.

i'll go down the but the small west african archipelago is one of the world's poorest countries and is heavily in debt. we accompanied a group of f o employees to a remote fishing village. the, they were there to take inventory to count and measure votes for their eventual replacement. the, the fisher's were just returning from 10 hours,

etc. in wooden boats like these we were curious to see what they had brought in the catch was meeker yard. again, i am going to be off. it was pensive just a few years ago that were more efficient. now like the big companies from europe and asia come close to the coast, thinking that okay, the more fishing everything out, this is where the f a o supported investment project comes in. in the future, the fishermen would be provided with modern fiberglass boats that could be equipped with motors, allowing them to go further out to see this

is where the investors would come into play. in addition to fishing, the investment paper also contained a completely different idea for advancing. so to me and principally, it referred to this commercial from the 1980s. according to the f o investment paper, this type of branding could be used to attract investors for tourism. we drove to the sleepy port town of navies, according to the investment plan. one of for new ports was to be built here, including a cruise ship war. if investors could be found, the local residents were skeptical. get the most because they have to go look at

the there are great plans you separate, but then nothing ever happens because they list of they make big promises that they don't see permission. well meant the brought me the america as well as our quick design contracts, but then nothing comes of it so close to that. we ordinary people can try as hard as we like people of faith. but in the end is what we end up with. nothing. with the method was no one here really believes cruise ships will bring droves of taurus to the island in the foreseeable future. so who will ultimately benefit from the new port? the topic of building ports on so to me and principi is not new for the people here in 2015 china announced a new deep sea port construction project at a cost of $800000000.00 us dollars

a year later. so to me and principal cut its diplomatic relations with taiwan and establish relations with china, the china is traces are everywhere. at the end of 2021. so to me and principi joined the chinese belt and wrote a glance at the map shows why the small island nation is so attractive for china. it lies in a region where china is influence, is still relatively slight. the boston road project does not and does not consider not directly at least the atlantic defense. it gets quite separate from the belt throughout political analysts. gustavo blasio de santos focuses on portuguese

speaking countries in africa. he is carefully watching china strategic interest in nations like so. to me and principal, he believes the f o investment paper is actually about something else entirely. this whole project where they have these 5 or 6 chapters, like the industry infrastructure foods, was it like fisheries as well included? the kind of resembles the belton roads and internationally sponsors a belt for roots to which they can channel influence and resources to, to products that can actually, the benefit of china is a global logistics. and mentions is the hand in hand initiative. not only concerned with improving the lives of the people on so to me and principal is china really exploiting the f a o for its own geo strategic interests?

now we're at the panama canal. one of the world's most important trade routes. china, is it the 2nd largest client after the us here to a project idea has been floated that could benefit chinese interests. the f a o is looking for investors for a panama food hub initiative here. green from brazil, for example, could be stored here temporarily before being shipped onward to asia. the china has been investing along the panama canal for years. but according to latin america expert evan ellis. others are leading the way internationally in agricultural product, shipping. the panama canal has really never been used as an agricultural distribution hub. it has been used for ships that are carrying agricultural goods

that need to transit from atlantic ports to like is a brazil and argentina to pacific destinations like china. but the magic of this proposal from a chinese strategic perspective is it leverages a united nations organization and the government of panama to create something that would give the chinese an advantage that they could not get directly in the market through competition or acquisitions. the experts agree that the f, a o's hand in hand initiative, could become a driving force behind china as built and road project. and there's more back in 2022 with already one year into his position at the f, a o. the woman next to him is the then ceo of cop life international. the largest agro chemical industry interest group with members including their and b, s f,

the, the document. and the photo shows the new partnership that has just been concluded between f a o and crop life. crop life international street is a crop life. international has been striving for some time to negotiate a partnership agreement with the f they have to mine. and so i thought that he how for you to feel that was true in my time as well. so i know when they made another effort to get such a partnership agreement to go as partial of top committee for that was an absolute no go in my day on an officer because no go to mine inside the chairman of the board of directors of crop life is here on the left, eric fear, walt head of the chinese state owned syngenta agro chemical group. in the same year, the f. a o entered into another partnership with syngenta itself. few items for your individual crop protection companies on so that was completely on

thinkable. and since you with me to see him in the shape of syngenta, have you heard back then that would have been impossible? 9 allen raska was the f o official responsible for crop protection in latin america and the caribbean. for many years. we asked him what these agreements mean for you in organization like the f a o. to no longer are we in a spot where we can discuss with member countries that human health hazards and pesticides and with the companies and play this role of mutual broker. that is so important for f, a l for the you into play. now this partnership with a couple life and i figure out destroys that completely because now there we are. you know, there's the director general smiling with the head of crop life saying we're in this is strategic partnership together. and we're moving forward together. well, to me as sense just the wrong image and message to everybody that i say it

was no longer an honest a neutral broker. as we went through pesticides shipment data that could be traced to specific companies, one firm stood out. the chinese state owned syngenta the how could the as a oh, change its course on pesticides so drastically. the frequent answer is that the us also wants more corporate influence. i think that's the space that the us in china is sort of agreed to within the feel that we can work together because we have common interest. here we ask the f a o for a statement regarding the partnership with crop life. we were told that there were no legal, financial, or other obligations,

and that the f a o is currently reviewing all existing partnerships. the as profess, decide shipments. we were told only that the active ingredients must be approved in the recipients country, or in certain cases safe for alternatives or being explored. we would have liked to interview to don't you or a representative, but we were refused. many of our questions remain on answered the to the how big i go. flock the finish, we have a letter with us tested. i'm quick as that's 12 yeah. hops. you could always connect, let's say, what comes to mind at say it was the best thing. that's one time that was the time is about one is with the fence. ok? an experiment. the next f a o director general will be

elected starting july 1st i the like plus, i'm off in your opinion. what will happen of china will stay in the drive a safe side of him. his life isn't probable. it is up in violence because there are no other candidates. in spring $22033.00 candidates were in the running for the next election. then the candidates from tajikistan and iraq mysteriously withdrew. and to don't, you was in fact elected for a 2nd term. for me personally, it's a bitter disappointment that the european union, even in cooperation with the us, did not manage to put forward a candidate for the new election that is being comprehensible to me. our request for an interview was refused by the german ministry of agriculture. we

were told in writing that any instrumental ization of the f, a o for unilateral interests is unacceptable. so, what happens now? what happens now depends on how other countries position themselves, how much they show that f a o policy is important to down us or to see and that they won't just look away from the something i don't see or down. if you look at what has happened and what could happen, that could well be an intensification of chinese. and for the, for the also she was the

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