CropLife International Applauds G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Declaration
CropLife International has today applauded the G20 Agriculture Working Group Ministerial Declaration, which places international trade and the critical role of productivity firmly at the core of food system transformation.
The Declaration is the culmination of the G20 Agriculture Working Group’s discussions held this week in Mato Grosso, Brazil, and is itself a precursor to the G20 Summit taking place in November. CropLife International has welcomed in particular the emphasis placed in the Declaration upon:
- The critical role of production and productivity in food system transformation.
- The recognition that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to the complex challenges facing farmers and our food system.
- The support for targeted policies that focus upon outcomes-driven, sustainable and innovative solutions rooted in science and adapted to local contexts.
- The role of international trade in food security, with the WTO’s rules-based multilateral trading system at its core.
- In addition to the centrality of the WTO provisions, the need for concrete steps to be taken to ensure trade flow in agricultural and food products.
The Declaration reflects expert inputs taken from engagement groups including the B20, and closely reflects the recommendations made to the G20 Agriculture Working Group by the B20 Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture Task Force, of which CropLife International Chairman Livio Tedeschi served as co-Chair.
As the Declaration was published today, Tedeschi said: “The work of the B20 Task Force upon which I had the privilege to serve as co-Chair was focused from the beginning on sustainable food system transformation. This requires more than rhetoric and good intentions. We believe that our recommendations will help advance us forwards into solutions. By adopting our recommendations, focusing on trade, and highlighting the need for productivity through innovation, the G20 Agriculture Ministers have done exactly that as they published their Declaration today. A great step forward for agriculture.”
Emily Rees, President and CEO of CropLife International, said: “Brazil’s G20 Presidency has from the very outset made clear that agriculture is at the forefront of addressing the key challenges they had in their sights. Fighting poverty, ending hunger, and improving nutrition whilst confronting climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. They have been tireless in their determination to use their Presidency to strengthen the way in which sustainable and resilient agriculture can be advanced. Today’s Declaration is proof of their commitment to advancing these goals, and we salute them.”
Get The Newsletter Today!
