Participation of the CIHEAM at the G20 Ministerial meeting on
Agriculture in Istanbul
Press release
11 May 2015
As the G20 Chair in 2015, Turkey focuses its efforts on ensuring inclusive and
robust growth through collective action, formulated as the three I’s of the
Turkish Presidency: Inclusiveness, Implementation, and Investment for
Growth.
Turkish authorities have decided to place the challenges of food and nutrition
security among the main priorities of its G20 Presidency, highlighting in
particular the issue of Food Losses and Waste (FLW). In this context, on May
7 and 8, 2015, the second ministerial meeting on agriculture of the G20
Member States was organised in Istanbul after the first one held in Paris in
June 2011.
Bringing together the majority of the ministers of the 20 largest economies
of the world1, but also those of the invited countries (Singapore, Sweden,
Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Spain) and the heads or representatives of several
International Organizations (FAO, World Bank, IFAD, WFP, OECD, IFPRI), the
meeting unanimously adopted an ambitious declaration composed of 14
points (see the Annex).
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G20 Members (Turkey, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the United
Kingdom, the United States of America and the EU) represent 85% of the world’s economy, 70%
of the global agricultural economy and the two thirds of the world’s population.
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One of the main outcomes of this meeting consists of the establishment of a new Platform
building on existing systems aimed at considering the measurement framework proposed
by International Organisations and for sharing information and experiences in terms of
reducing food losses and waste.
© CIHEAM / Abis
The Turkish Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, H.E. Mehmet Mehdi Eker, invited
the CIHEAM to take part in the meeting of Istanbul. As a founding member of our
Organisation in 1962, Turkey has always supported the CIHEAM in its actions aimed at
reinforcing Mediterranean cooperation in agriculture, food and rural affairs. Five years ago,
in Istanbul, hosting the 8th ministerial meeting of CIHEAM Member States, Turkish
authorities emphasized climate change as one of the main concerns for the Mediterranean
agricultural systems. Since April 2015, Pr. Masum Burak, current Director General in the
Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock has been elected President of the
Governing Board of the CIHEAM.
Dr. Cosimo Lacirignola, Secretary General of the CIHEAM participated in the Ministerial
meeting. On the 8 May, he took the floor to emphasize the Mediterranean specificities of
the global food challenges: “Improving agricultural productivity, strengthening food security
and stimulating inclusive growth in rural areas are strategic pillars for better sustainable
development and greater human security in the Mediterranean Region. The CIHEAM is
therefore implementing a set of actions in order to assist European, North African and Middle
Eastern countries to face these challenges. We are convinced that these challenges can only be
addressed through multilateral cooperation. Education, Research, Science and Technical
Projects are at the core of the CIHEAM’s Food Diplomacy”, he said.
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© CIHEAM / Abis
The speech of the Secretary General focused on the main theme of the G20 Ministerial
meeting. He stressed the “very sensitive issue of Food Waste and Losses in the Mediterranean
countries that should be addressed through a three-fold approach: the need to reduce the
waste of natural resources (i), the need to reduce the waste of food products (ii), and the need
to stop the waste of knowledge and traditional know-how (iii)”. To conclude his speech (see
the Annex), the Secretary General called for greater cooperation with all G20 Member
countries and international organisations “because the Mediterranean Future certainly
depends on better food security”.
In the margins of the ministerial meeting, the Secretary General took the opportunity to
have discussions with the Ministers of the four Members countries of our Organisation
(France, Italy, Spain and Turkey), but also with the FAO Director General and the EU
Commissioner for agriculture and rural development, explaining in detail the main current
activities and projects of the CIHEAM while receiving their very useful advice for the
ongoing strategic plan.
© CIHEAM / Abis
www.ciheam.org
G20
Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
Istanbul, May 8, 2015
Speech of the CIHEAM Secretary General
Mr Cosimo Lacirignola
Excellences,
Distinguished Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of CIHEAM, I would like to thank the Turkish authorities for inviting
our Mediterranean Organization to this G20 meeting and especially Honourable
Mehmet Mehdi EKER, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock of Turkey,
who has always supported CIHEAM Activities.
As an Intergovernmental Organization composed of 13 Mediterranean States
(some of which are also G20 members), CIHEAM deploys its expertise in
specialized training, applied research and technical assistance. Our mission of
cooperation is solution-oriented: answering to the needs of our Member States
in the field of agriculture, food security, fisheries and rural development.
All the challenges discussed during this ministerial meeting are also the main
issues fuelling the debate at the Mediterranean level.
The pressures which mark food systems worldwide are the same in the
Mediterranean: water stress, pressure on land, demographic growth, climate
change, vulnerability of family farming and fisheries, nutritional transitions,
inefficiency in logistics, and strong dependence on external markets with
increasing volumes of cereal imports.
G20 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
Istanbul, 8 May 2015
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Food security will not be achieved only by increasing local agricultural
production. Both employment and income generation policies are needed,
targeting the most vulnerable sections of the population. Among the most
vulnerable, small farmers and rural people, in particular women and the youth,
require special attention.
The nutritional dimension of food security must not be by-passed. Adequate
nutrition is an integral part of the right to food. Protecting and promoting the
Mediterranean Diet is key to achieving an adequate nutritional status for the
populations around the Mediterranean basin.
Improving agricultural productivity, strengthening food security and stimulating
inclusive growth in rural areas are strategic pillars for a better sustainable
development and a greater human security in the Mediterranean Region.
CIHEAM is therefore implementing a set of activities able to assist the
European, North African and Middle Eastern Countries to face these
challenges.
We are convinced that they can only be addressed through multilateral
cooperation. Education, Research, Science and Technical Projects are at the core
of the CIHEAM’s Food Diplomacy.
G20 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
Istanbul, 8 May 2015
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Establishing concrete networks is also one of our missions. Let me mention
MED-Amin, launched in 2014 at the initiative of the 13 Ministers of CIHEAM in
order to implement a Mediterranean version of the AMIS Initiative.
As “Knowledge broker” in the region, we are also convinced that the very
sensitive issue of Food Waste and Losses should be addressed through a triple
approach:
− need to reduce the waste of natural resources;
− need to reduce the waste of food products;
− and equally important: the need to stop the waste of knowledge and of
traditional know-how.
In order to properly address resource and food waste, it is necessary to share
knowledge between the countries and between farmers. Traditional know-how
in agriculture and environment needs to be preserved and its value enhanced.
Agro-Ecological solutions exist in the Mediterranean to overcome the constraints
of geography and manage the scarcity of resources. CIHEAM is persuaded that
the diversity of agriculture and rural areas are part of the richness of the
Mediterranean Area.
This approach has been promoted through the “Feeding Knowledge”
Programme implemented by CIHEAM in the frame of Expo Milano 2015 which
opened a few days ago in Italy.
G20 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
Istanbul, 8 May 2015
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Excellencies,
The Mediterranean Agenda of CIHEAM Member countries is complementary to
the G20 Members Food Agenda.
I hope that we’ll have the opportunity to develop synergies. Some of you are
already members of our Organisation, but let me invite all of you to work with
CIHEAM.
In the Mediterranean Region, the agricultural experience of your countries is
warmly welcome.
The 53 history of CIHEAM is linked to that of Europe and of the Mediterranean
Basin. We believe that for a better Mediterranean as well as global future we
need to combine our forces and work together sharing our experience and
expertise.
That’s why CIHEAM is reinforcing its partnership with the FAO and European
Union, but also with OECD, the World Bank and IFAD.
We are therefore calling for a greater cooperation with all of you, G20 Member
countries or international organisations, because the Mediterranean Future
depends certainly – if not only - on a better food security.
G20 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
Istanbul, 8 May 2015
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G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting
Istanbul, 7-8 May 2015
Final Communiqué
1.
We, the G20 Agriculture Ministers, are committed to meeting the challenge of
global food security and nutrition for an expected world population of nine billion by
2050. We stress that intensifying pressures on natural resources and biodiversity and the
impacts of climate change mean that we should raise productivity while moving towards
food systems that are more sustainable in all their dimensions – economic and social as
well as environmental – and in particular minimize food loss and waste. Responsible
investment in sustainable and resilient food systems should raise productivity to expand
food supplies and increase incomes and quality jobs in rural areas, especially for women
and youth, reducing poverty and contributing to the G20’s inclusive growth agenda. Our
Leaders underscored that food security and nutrition is a top priority for the G20 and
endorsed the G20 Food Security and Nutrition Framework in 2014.
2.
Food security and nutrition is a concern for G20 members and non-members alike.
We appreciate the work of the Development Working Group (DWG) in coordinating the
G20’s food security and development agendas and in particular in fighting poverty which
remains the main cause of food insecurity and barrier to the progressive realization of the
right to adequate food in the context of national food security. We welcome the progress
on the draft Implementation Plan for the G20 Food Security and Nutrition (FSN)
Framework.
3.
We recognize the achievements of the G20 to date in the areas of agriculture and
food security, in particular the 2011 Action Plan on Food Price Volatility and Agriculture
and including the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), support to sustainable
productivity improvement in particular through the Global Agriculture and Food Security
Program (GAFSP), support to the development and voluntary implementation of
Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI), the promotion of innovation
through an annual Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) and the Platforms for
Agricultural Risk Management (PARM) and for Tropical Agriculture (TAP). These
successful initiatives warrant our continuing support. While AMIS has been a particularly
successful initiative, we dedicate ourselves to deeper and stronger collaboration in AMIS
to materially improve global data and market transparency by disclosing regular, reliable,
accurate, timely and comparable data and we encourage the ‘Rapid Response Forum’ to
address challenges in global agriculture and food security.
4.
Adequate nutrition is a prerequisite for human development, productivity and
growth. We reaffirm the Rome Declaration on Nutrition adopted by the Second
International Conference on Nutrition. We welcome the policy options and strategies
proposed in the voluntary Framework for Action and strongly encourage governments
and other stakeholders to incorporate them into their national food and nutrition
strategies as appropriate. We welcome Expo Milano 2015, with the theme “Feeding the
Planet: Energy for Life”, and its many related events on food security and nutrition.
5.
Sustainable food systems should promote sustainable increases in productivity
and production, use natural resources more efficiently, increase resilience and help
address climate change in accordance with the UNFCCC. Improvement of soil fertility,
water retention capacity and restoration of degraded land are key elements to improve
agricultural productivity for food security in a changing climate. Sustainable food systems
can help promote not only food security and the more sustainable use of natural
resources but also economic and social opportunities through quality jobs especially for
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smallholders, rural women and youth.
Good coordination among responsible
government authorities is essential for the identification and implementation of policies
to promote responsible public and private investments in infrastructure, irrigation,
protection of soils, open and transparent markets, technologies, knowledge sharing, rural
services including financial services, extension and advisory services, social protection
programs, health and safety at work, employment services and vocational training and
education.
6.
A comprehensive food systems approach taking into consideration the entirety of
food value chains from production through food processing and distribution to retailing
and consumption is needed. In addition to public efforts, we recognize the important role
of the private sector in making the investments and developing the technologies and good
practices needed to enhance productivity, efficiency and sustainability in food value
chains and we will dedicate ourselves to making increased efforts to engage with the
private sector. We encourage the use of policy guidance, such as the voluntary Principles
for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems endorsed by the Committee
on World Food Security (CFS) in 2014 and the OECD policy framework for Investment in
Agriculture as appropriate.
7.
Investment at all stages of food value chains is fundamental to raising productivity,
generating employment and incomes and reducing food loss and waste. We will promote
national enabling environments for investment including infrastructure and policies
conducive to well-functioning markets, the integration of smallholders and women into
those markets, inclusive financing institutions, secure tenure of land, social protection,
the management of risk and measures to limit the adverse impacts of excessive price
volatility. We support efforts by countries and international organizations in promoting
the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of
Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT), endorsed by
the CFS in 2012 and the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food
Systems endorsed in 2014. We call on FAO, IFAD, UNCTAD, the World Bank Group and
OECD to provide guidance to interested countries on the operationalization of these
principles.
8.
We reaffirm our commitment to the fundamental role of the multilateral trading
system in global food security and to the ongoing WTO negotiations with a view to
promptly concluding the Doha Development Agenda and to the success of the WTO Tenth
Ministerial Conference at Nairobi. We call on WHO, FAO and other relevant international
institutions to continue to improve the capacities of the standard setting bodies such as
CODEX, IPPC and OIE to provide scientific advice and guidance to all countries.
9.
Improving agricultural productivity sustainably is fundamental to the achievement
of sustainable food systems and food security. The G20 has launched a number of
initiatives in the past to support agricultural productivity growth. These efforts need to be
strengthened where appropriate. We support their extension as appropriate to include
the whole food system, for example in the areas of processing, storage and distribution,
and to consider the special needs of vulnerable farmers, which may include smallholders
and family farmers, in the broader context of inclusive and sustainable rural
development. The MACS has an important role in promoting international collaboration
to identify global research priorities and facilitating collaboration between public and
private sector organizations in the key areas most likely to drive sustainable productivity
gains. We ask MACS to consider these needs and propose ways to support the G20 agenda
on agriculture and food security issues with a particular focus on supporting transition
towards sustainable agricultural and food systems. Given the challenge of climate change
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for food security, we support the work of the UNFCCC and we look forward to the
successful outcome of COP 21 in Paris in December 2015.
10.
Productivity improvement can be promoted by adopting technologies and sharing
knowledge as much as new research and innovation. We recognize that adoption will not
happen without favorable policy and regulatory environments and effective and locally
adapted technical advisory and extension services. Taking into account the role played by
agricultural policy in promoting sustainable food systems and food security, we call for
greater cooperation and exchange of information among G20 members on policy
experiences and successful practices in these respects and their sharing with nonmember countries. We invite the OECD and other relevant international organizations to
continue to support the development of the G20 initiated framework for improving
agricultural productivity sustainably.
11.
We note with great concern the significant extent of food loss and waste
throughout food value chains and their negative consequences for food security,
nutrition, use of natural resources and the environment. We highlight this as a global
problem of enormous economic, environmental and societal significance and encourage
all G20 members to strengthen their efforts to address it. We believe the reduction of food
loss and waste is a good objective for G20 collective action and that the G20 can provide
global leadership in this regard. We recall the CFS’s Policy Recommendations on Food Loss
and Waste. In the context of policy coherence, we encourage the DWG to continue its
efforts to develop actions to reduce food loss and waste as part of its Implementation Plan
for the G20 FSN Framework.
12.
We recognize that while specific actions to combat food loss and waste may vary
by country and food system, priority of action should be based on prevention and
recovery of safe and nutritious otherwise wasted food to feed people rather than
repurposing it for other uses. We acknowledge the importance of promoting this
hierarchy of action to improve food system efficiencies and reduce food insecurity, taking
into account national circumstances and market-based approaches. To better target
interventions to reduce food loss and waste, there is a need for better estimates of the
economic and physical magnitude of food loss and waste and a shared understanding of
their economic, social and environmental impacts and their underlying drivers. Sharing
country experiences in reducing food loss and waste, including through policy incentives,
infrastructure investments, market innovations, consumer education, recovery and
redistribution of otherwise lost or wasted food for people to eat, business incentives and
private sector investments, will also facilitate global efforts to tackle this issue.
13.
There is value in a common definitional and measurement framework that G20
members can consider in order to establish coherent estimates of food loss and waste
against which they can monitor progress in the reduction of food loss and waste. We take
note of the Global Initiative for Food Loss and Waste Reduction (SaveFood) and invite FAO
together with IFPRI and other relevant international organizations to establish a
platform, building on existing systems, for sharing information and experiences in
measuring and reducing food loss and waste. This platform should include experiences of
G20 members and other countries and also focus on low-income developing countries.
14.
We request that the Agriculture Deputies in collaboration with the DWG should
bring together the conclusions of our meeting today and the recommendations of the
Implementation Plan into a G20 Action Plan on Food Security/Sustainable Food Systems for
consideration at the Antalya Leaders’ Summit. This would be relevant to both G20
members and low-income developing countries.
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