11 September 2023, New Delhi: The Leaders of the G20 met in New Delhi on 9-10 September 2023 under the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. The meeting was a defining moment in history where the decisions the leaders of 20 nations made now will determine the future of the people and our planet. Agriculture is a key sector in all the participating nations and various discussions and deliberations happened among the Agriculture Ministers and Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS) of all the participating countries over the course of last one year to decide the road map for the future.
With respect to agriculture, the leaders have taken a pledge to work together and to commit to enhance global food security and nutrition for all in line with the G20 Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition 2023.
To achieve, the leaders have pledged below mentioned 6 key decisions to be implemented.
i. We encourage efforts to strengthen research cooperation on climate-resilient and nutritious grains such as millets, quinoa, sorghum, and other traditional crops including rice, wheat and maize. We welcome the outcomes from the G20 members engagement in the 12th G20 Meeting of Agriculture Chief Scientists (MACS).
ii. Emphasize the importance of increasing access to, availability, and efficient use of fertilizer and agricultural inputs, including through strengthening local fertilizer production, and to improve soil health.
iii. Commit to accelerating innovations and investment focused on increasing agricultural productivity, reducing food loss and waste across the value chain, and improving marketing and storage, to build more sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems.
iv. Commit to support developing countries’ efforts and capacities to address their food security challenges, and work together to enable access to affordable, safe, nutritious and healthy diets, and to foster the progressive realization of the right to adequate food.
v. Commit to facilitate open, fair, predictable, and rules-based agriculture, food and fertilizer trade, not impose export prohibitions or restrictions and reduce market distortions, in accordance with relevant WTO rules.
vi. Commit to strengthening the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) and the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM), for greater transparency to avoid food price volatility, supporting AMIS’s work on fertilizers, its expansion to include vegetable oils, and for enhancing collaboration with early warning systems.
