Call to boost cooperation for global food security

It is high time that developed countries increased investment and cooperation with developing and least developed countries to ensure global food security.

Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque said this at the 13th Berlin Conference of Agriculture Ministers on Friday.

The event was held virtually by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Agriculture ministers from more than 70 countries and representatives of 14 international organisations participated in the conference.

The Bangladesh delegation, led by the Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque, included Agriculture Secretary Md Mesbahul Islam and Additional Secretary Md Ruhul Amin Talukder.

In his address, Razzaque highlighted the initiatives of the Bangladesh government in the field of agriculture during the novel coronavirus period.

He said the trend of food production in Bangladesh continued upward in the last year as a result of timely steps taken by the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

However, ensuring global food security requires a concerted effort by everyone in the world, he said, adding that developed countries have to stand by developing and least-developed countries – through increasing investment and cooperation – to strengthen: agricultural development, agro-processing, agricultural mechanisation, and food value chain in developing countries.

Razzaque called for the development of an effective precautionary system to meet the food crisis in times of need.

The minister further said climate change is having a huge adverse effect on agriculture in developing countries, and so, everyone must work together to ensure a climate-resistant food system.

German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Julia Klockner welcomed everyone to the event.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanam Ghebreyesus and World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley, among others, spoke at the conference.

The 13th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture was organised by the German government for five days from January 18 to 22.

More than 90 countries and international organisations participated in the conference titled "How to Feed the World in Times of Pandemics and Climate Change?"

At the conference of the ministers of agriculture, three issues were emphasised in this year's joint declaration.

The first is to ensure food security by tackling Covid-19.

According to German Agriculture Minister Julia Klockner, the number of hungry people in the world before the outbreak of Covid-19 was 690 million which is about 9% percent of the world's population.

Although food supply and markets have remained stable during the novel coronavirus period, the number of hungry people has risen further due to economic stagnation and loss of employment and income, said the minister.

The second is to adopt a "one health approach" to avoid future pandemics. Animals have been the source of 80% of new human infections in the last 30 years.

This year's conference focuses on strengthening the relationship between the WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Organization for Animal Health.

The third is the announcement of working together to build a sustainable production system to combat the adverse effects of climate change.