Agriculture Ministers’ Conference
The world’s largest informal Conference of Agriculture Ministers took place on the last day of the conference. It constitutes the political highlight of the GFFA. During this conference, 61 agriculture ministers from all around the world adopted a joint political communiqué. High-level representatives from more than ten international organisations, such as the CFS, FAO, IFAD, OECD, WTO and World Bank also attended the conference.
You can find the final communiqué of the 16th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference here.
You can see the doorstep briefing by Federal Minister Cem Özdemir, Josefa Sacko, the Agriculture Commissioner of the African Union, and Paulo Teixeira, the Brazilian Minister of Agricultural Development and Family Agriculture, here.
Key results of the 16th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference:
Implementing the human right to adequate food Adequate food must be available, accessible and affordable for all.
The ministers aim to reinforce implementation of the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food and raise awareness of the guidelines.
Sustainable and resilient transformation of the food systems
The ministers have undertaken to accelerate the transformation towards sustainable, local, site-adapted and resilient agriculture in order to achieve SDG 2 on zero hunger and other 2030 Agenda sustainability goals.
Climate stewardship and biodiversity
Agroecological approaches, organic farming, agroforestry systems and circular economy will contribute to curbing the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. The ministers aim to support regional cycles, regional supply chains and sustainable consumption.
Strengthening vulnerable groups
Vulnerable groups are particularly affected by food insecurity, malnutrition and multiple crises and will therefore be strengthened. Equal participation, in particular for the young generation and for women, is of decisive importance.
Strengthening the role of women in the agricultural sector
The ministers aim to reduce unequal treatment of women in agriculture – including in managerial positions, and to improve women’s access to land and inputs.
Strengthening governance Sustainability needs functional structures.
This applies in particular to secure land tenure rights, access to high-quality seed and fair access to financing and rural infrastructure. The ministers aim to create a systemic approach through cross-sectoral coordination and coherence of political measures.
Halving global food waste
The goal is to drastically reduce food losses and waste along the entire value chain by 2030. To achieve this goal, specific goals need to be supplemented by effective measures; food losses and waste must be measured and all stakeholders must take committed action – from primary production to private households.
Improving fertiliser and plant protection product management
The ministers aim to strengthen sustainable fertiliser production and use in order to stabilise yields and avoid worldwide shortages. Fertiliser management will be part of integrated, sustainable land management. The ministers aim to support countries of the Global South in the sustainable production of fertilisers
Key Note Speaker
We are looking very much forward to our key note speaker Helmy Abouleish, CEO of Sekem and President of Demeter International!
SEKEM, an Egyptian development initiative founded in 1977 by Helmy’s father Ibrahim Abouleish, Mr. Abouleish promotes sustainable development in a holistic approach.
Helmy Abouleish also chairs Ecotec, the Sekem Development Foundation and the Board of Trustees of Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development.
As President of Demeter International, Helmy Abouleish has made a significant contribution to the vision of Demeter International, its values, principles and mission.
Senior Officials‘ Meeting (SOM)
On 18 January, the final negotiations of the GFFA Communiqué took place at the Senior Officials‘ Meeting (SOM). The representatives conducted constructive negotiations and established a Final Draft that was adopted unanimously by all 61 ministers present at the Agriculture Ministers’ Conference on 20 January. 38 countries and 11 International Organisations participated at the SOM.
