G20 Niigata Agriculture Ministers' Meeting

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G20 Niigata Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting took place in Niigata on May 11 and 12 at Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center, which is one of the related Ministerial meetings of G20 Osaka Summit on June 28 and 29.

The Agriculture Ministers of the G20 countries and invitees met at the invitation of Japanese Minister Takamori YOSHIKAWA.

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1. Outline

Date: May 11 to 12, 2019
Venue: Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture (Bandaijima 6-1, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture)
Participating countries/organizations (34 countries and organizations):

(1) G20 members
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Union (EU), France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Republic of South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States of America

(2) Invited guest countries
Chile, Netherlands, Senegal, Singapore, Spain, and Thailand

(3) Invited guest international organizations
ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development), IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute), OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), World Bank, WFP (United Nations World Food Programme), and WTO (World Trade Organization)

2. Themes and points of discussion

Main theme
“Toward Sustainable Agro-Food Sector – Emerging Issues and Good Practices”
Major issues to be discussed are:
(1) Fostering innovative human resources and new technologies
(2) Focusing on Food Value Chain, facilitating farmers and other FVCs stakeholders' benefit
(3) Pursuing possible contribution to achieve SDGs

3. Results

Summary of the Discussion

Under the theme of “Toward Sustainable Agro-Food Sector – Emerging Issues and Good Practices,” ministers of the G20 members and invitees frankly exchanged their views on the following three issues: (a) Fostering innovative human resources and new technologies; (b) Focusing on Food Value Chain, facilitating farmers and other FVCs stakeholders’ benefit; and (c) Pursuing possible contribution to achieve SDGs.
During the Meeting, Minister Yoshikawa highlighted Japan’s efforts for promoting agricultural innovation and human resource development, as well as the progress in the restoration from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE).
The ministers also discussed measures to address transboundary animal diseases and plant pests. In particular, ministers shared a view on the importance of the international cooperation to tackling on African Swine Fever.
On the final day of the Meeting, the “G20 Niigata Agriculture Ministers’ Declaration 2019” was adopted.

Official Documents

G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Declaration 2019 (PDF : 164KB)
Annex 1 For Better Plant Health (PDF : 107KB)
Annex 2 G20 Best Practices for Sustainable Agro-Food Sector
Annex 3 2019 G20 Stocktaking Exercise – Presidency’s Summary Statement (PDF : 237KB)

Other Highlights

During the official field tour, Japan’s cutting-edge agricultural technologies such as automated tractors, self-driving rice transplanters and drones, were on demonstration.
At the reception and the exhibition, delicacies of high-quality produces from Niigata and GEJE affected areas that have been restored, were served to delegates.
A speech from students at Niigata Municipal Kohshi Secondary School was delivered with the title of “Proposals for Sustainable Agro-Food Sector.”
Minister Yoshikawa expressed his utmost gratitude to Niigata Prefecture and Niigata City for their enthusiasm, over-a-year-long work for the success of the Meeting.

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