Vincent Martin

Vincent Martin

FAO representative, People’s Republic of China and DPR Korea

Dr Vincent Martin took up his assignment as the FAO representative for the People’s Republic of China and DPR Korea in July 2016. He has been working in international development affairs related to veterinary public health, food security and agriculture development for the last 25 years and joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in 1998. He started his career as a veterinary epidemiologist in Zimbabwe, working at the Center for International Research in Agriculture and Development (CIRAD). He also worked at the French Ministry of Agriculture. From 2001 to 2007, he held various positions of increased responsibilities in FAO Headquarters and in the field related to infectious disease analysis, early warning systems and infectious disease emergencies.

A farmer harvests cabbage at Huarong county in Hunan province, at the border of Hubei on 5 March 2020. (Noel Celis/AFP)

The impact of Covid-19 on the agriculture sector in China

Vincent Martin, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) representative in China and North Korea, shares his thoughts on the Chinese government’s efforts to limit the impact of Covid-19 on agriculture and food security in China. He remains sanguine that the country has enough wind in its sails to see it through this tough period and embark firmly on new beginnings.