I hope this meeting can help solve this urgent global food problem
The Indonesian Agriculture Ministry, through the second meeting of agriculture deputies (ADM), has invited G20 members to commit and work together to find concrete solutions to the global food disruption.
"I hope this meeting can help solve this urgent global food problem," chairman of the G20 Agriculture Working Group, Kasdi Subagyono, said while opening the second ADM here on Wednesday.
The Agriculture Deputies Meeting is one of the derivatives of the Agriculture Working Group (AWG) of the G20 that focuses on global agricultural development. The meeting is taking place in Yogyakarta from July 27–29, 2022.
Subagyono, who is also serving as the secretary-general of the Agriculture Ministry, urged all members to agree on a draft communiqué regarding the three main priority issues in the agricultural sector, which has been prepared based on inputs from all parties and will be submitted by the Minister of Agriculture at the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting at the end of September 2022 in Bali.
"We will focus on finalizing the communiqué draft of the Agriculture Minister with more detail. The communiqué draft will become an important material to be conveyed by the Minister of Agriculture," he said.
Related news: Indonesia, Japan to ink revised IJEPA on sidelines of G20 Summit
The ADM is themed “Balancing Food Production and Trade to Fulfill Food for All,” to reflect the G20's commitment to ensuring sufficient food supply for all, he added.
The effort will be carried out by ensuring a balance between guaranteed food supply from a sustainable food agriculture system, food commodity trade, and smooth cross-border agriculture.
"In this meeting, we gave one view related to food that there should be no boundaries between countries. It must be open, transparent, and accessible to all parties, especially G20 members," Subagyono informed.
Related news: Jokowi extends G20 invite to Chinese President
He also lauded the active contribution of G20 member countries, invited countries, regional, and international organizations in various initiatives within the framework of the G20 AWG that have been carried out previously.
The initiatives include the Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) from July 5–7, in Bali, which discussed five priority global agricultural issues proposed by Indonesia, namely food security policies after the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-resilient agriculture, food loss and waste, agriculture, and digital tracing.
"In these extraordinary circumstances, we need to encourage stronger collaboration and cooperation to ensure no country is left behind," Subagyono remarked.
Related news: Sanur Port ready to operate before Bali G20 Summit: Minister
Related news: TIIWG can help achieve sustainable industrialization: minister
