François PYTHOUD

Former Ambassador and Permament Representative of Switzerland to FAO, WFP, IFAD

Chairman Swiss Academy of Taste

François Pythoud is a recognized expert in biological sciences and international food and agricultural policies. Holding a PhD in Natural Sciences from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, he has extensive experience in sustainable food, agriculture, biodiversity, and biotechnology policies

Since 2022, he has been an independent advisor and CEO of PAD Conseil, as well as Chairman of the Swiss Academy of Taste. He has held key positions in the Swiss administration, notably as Ambassador to the UN agencies in Rome (FAO, WFP, IDAF) (2015-2019). Before that, he led the International Sustainable Agriculture Division at the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) and held various roles related to biotechnology and environmental policy at the Federal Office of Environment.

Mr. Pythoud has played an active role in numerous international bodies, serving as Chair of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2019-2021) and the FAO Committee on Agriculture (2016-2018). He was also a member of the FAO Programme Committee and Vice-Chair of several committees and protocols related to biodiversity and biotechnology (OECD, Cartagena Protocol and Convention on Biodiversity, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources).

His expertise has been instrumental in shaping global policy frameworks, including the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the recommendations of the Committee on World Food Security, the United Nations 2030 Agenda (Sustainable Development Goal 2), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (2010) and the Cartagena Protoxol on Biosafety (2000). He also contributed to the FAO Global Plan of Action on Biodiversity and numerous biosafety and genetic resource protection standards in OECD and different UN organisations.

He holds a PhD in Natural Sciences (1985) and a Master’s degree in Plant Biology (1980) from the University of Fribourg. He works as Research Associate at the University of Washington, Seattle USA (1986-1987) and at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel, Switzerland (1988-1989)

With over 35 years of experience in environmental and agricultural governance, François Pythoud is a key figure in promoting an holistic approach to sustainable food and agriculture at the international level.