Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 

Sanjay Sethi is an accomplished food sustainability professional with over three decades of experience spanning sustainable agriculture, corporate sustainability, and international development. With more than ten years of overseas experience in the UAE and Africa, he brings a global perspective to advancing resilient and equitable food systems. 

At the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he leads initiatives on sustainable food systems transformation, project management, capacity building, land restoration, and private sector engagement under the GEF-7 FOLUR Impact Program in India. His work focuses on practical and scalable solutions that balance productivity, resource efficiency, and environmental regeneration, particularly in rice–wheat ecosystems. 

Throughout his career, Sanjay has designed and managed large-scale programs integrating climate adaptation, land-use planning, and livelihood enhancement. He has played a key role in forging partnerships that link policy, practice, and markets – helping farmers, institutions, and agribusinesses collaborate toward shared sustainability goals. 

Previously, he served on the Board of the UN-backed Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) and the Steering Committee of WBCSD’s Global Agribusiness Alliance (GAA), contributing to global frameworks for responsible sourcing and sustainable value chains. 

He has been recognized internationally with honors including The Africa Food Prize (2013), the Chief Sustainability Officer Awards (UAE), and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Agribusiness, celebrating his leadership in promoting sustainability, innovation, and inclusive growth. 

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