ROME – Former Brazilian Food Security Minister, Jose Graziano da Silva, was elected this past Sunday as the 8th Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

He won with just over 50% of the vote, beating Miguel Angel Martinos of Spain by a vote of 92-88.

Graziano comes from within the FAO, having served as the senior regional officer for Latin America and the Caribbean since 2006. He succeeds Jacques Diouf who has served as the Director-General since 1994.