" Welcome aboard !
», Declared Monday the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, during an online ceremony attended by the astronaut and the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA). Josef Aschbacher in particular.
"While hunger increases - nearly 690 million people suffer from it and the Covid-19 pandemic could push up to 132 million more people in this situation (...) - it is not possible to continue on the same path, ”said the head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, based in Rome.
"I want to raise awareness about the fight against hunger"
“We need everyone's help.
We need science.
And we must act, above all, ”he said, during this pre-recorded event.
Thomas Pesquet brings us a unique perspective, a point of view from space, ”added Qu Dongyu.
Thomas Pesquet's role “will consist in raising public awareness of the impact of climate change, the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition, and FAO's activities aimed at transforming agrifood systems”, specifies the organization.
Thomas Pesquet, 43, is due to join the International Space Station (ISS) on April 22 from Florida aboard a Space X spacecraft, along with three other astronauts.
The Frenchman said he was “very proud” to accept this nomination.
“I am currently preparing my next mission and therefore I feel closer than ever to the work of FAO.
I want to raise awareness about the fight against hunger.
"
VIDEO.
Thomas Pesquet is about to return to space: "It's a new vehicle, we are going to double-check everything"
Before his first departure for space, he had confided that his partner Anne worked at the FAO.
“She saves the world.
I make children dream, ”he told director Pierre-Emmanuel Le Goff, who was shooting a film about him.