Preface of the Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection

Ilse Aigner,
Federal Minister for Food,
Agriculture and Consumer
Protection

Dear Readers,

As the world population grows, so does the demand for high-quality foodstuffs. It is estimated that there will be nine billion people to feed in 2050.  And, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, there are already almost one billion people suffering from hunger. We are thus facing a huge challenge!

I am therefore delighted that this year government representatives from around the world, business experts, researchers and experts from the development cooperation sector are once again meeting at the fourth Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) in order to give impetus to international agricultural and food policy. Having focused on the subjects of agriculture and climate change, as well as trade and global food security at the last GFFA meetings, the main topic of this year's conference will be "Food Security through Sustainable Growth – Farming with Limited Resources".

Our shared ambition is to ensure that the agricultural sector produces enough food for everyone.  How we achieve this target, how the agricultural sector can commit itself to the principles of sustainability without losing sight of its mandate of assuring food security - all these questions will be discussed by experts together with a well-informed audience in over twenty expert panels.

This year's Forum will analyse in detail one aspect that has, in my view, been neglected so far:  the role of women in the agricultural sector. In the developing countries in particular, women make up over 60 per cent of those working in agriculture. And yet, women very often have little or no access to resources, both in practice and under law.

The open discourse and different types of events at the GFFA will allow us to pave the way for a forward-looking agricultural policy that not only considers what is best for the national interest, but assumes responsibility for the global context.  It is therefore my firm intention to reach an understanding with my colleagues from abroad at the International Agriculture Ministers' Panel and 4th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Summit that will provide input for the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

I warmly invite all of you to help make the GFFA a success and look forward to your contributions.

Ilse Aigner
Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection