The 16th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference (January 20, 2024)

1. The 16th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference  

(1) Overview
      The 16th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference took place with participants from 73 different countries and organizations and held
      in-depth discussions on fostering sustainable agricultural production and resilient supply chains under the theme “Food Systems for
      Our Future: Joining Forces for a Zero Hunger World”. Mr. Ryosuke Ogawa, Vice Minister for International Affairs of Ministry of           
      Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan attended this conference and presented Japan's initiative to enhance sustainable
      agricultural production and sustainable productivity growth and global operations. This conference also adopted the Global Forum for
      Food and Agriculture 2024 Final Communiqué.


The Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference takes place annually at the end of January to discuss key issues in food and agriculture under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) in Germany and is one of the biggest agricultural ministerial level conferences in the world.

(2) Date
      January 20, 2024

(3) Key Points in Japan’s Remarks      

• Addressing issues of climate change and biodiversity is our top priorities. Having a multi-angled perspective is vital for transforming the food system and continuing sustainable production, in addition to disaster response such as earthquakes and the like.     
  
• Taking actions to ensure stabilized imports while increasing domestic agricultural production in normal situations is crucial to securing our nation’s food security, ultimately aiming to provide food to our nation’s individuals citizens.     
• Driving “Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, MIDORI” is necessary to achieve both production growth and sustainability in the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries.  
• Leveraging regional characteristics is important since there is no one-size-fits-all solution to achieve sustainable agriculture under differences in climate conditions and production structures in each country.
  

(4) Key Commitments in the Communiqué       

• Continuing the urgently needed transformation towards more resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems.(6) 
• Fostering resilient and sustainable agricultural practices and technologies to enhance sustainable agricultural production and sustainable productivity growth.(7)
• Supporting a rules-based, open, safe, transparent, non-discriminatory, inclusive, equitable and sustainable multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.(28)
• In line with the One Health approach, all sector capacities need to be enhanced to establish national systems for prevention, preparedness and control in respect of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans and animals. (31)
• Noting that sustainable supply chains for agricultural commodities may have positive impacts on human rights and sustainable development, and stressing that they can help promote sustainable production and consumption patterns and contribute to halting forest loss and degradation.(32)
• Stressing that reducing food loss and waste is a key ingredient for several sustainable development goals. commit to reducing food loss and waste along the entire supply chain.(36, 37)
• Strengthening the participation of smallholders, women, youth, indigenous peoples and local communities and minorities in the development of food policies.(51)

Annex.
Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2024 Final Communiqué (PDF : 827KB)

2. Bilateral Meeting  

Mr. Ogawa, Vice Minister for International Affairs, met with a dignitary at the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference.


Mr. Ogawa held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Claudia Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Both discussed common challenges for sustainable agriculture to be addressed in both countries, such as rural development with youth and women, technological innovation, and organic farming. They mutually reaffirmed their commitment to work together toward the conclusion of a Japan-Germany Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC).

3. Promotional Event for Japanese Scallops and Other Japanese Foods 

By taking opportunity of the Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference, promotional event was held and the following Japanese foods were served to attendees from local food distributors, the restaurant industry, and the media: scallops (from Hokkaido Prefecture), yellowtail (from Kagoshima Prefecture), sea bream (from Ehime Prefecture), wagyu beef (made in Kagoshima Prefecture), Japanese sake (made in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture, and Kumamoto Prefecture), and Japanese tea (made in Shizuoka Prefecture, Fukuoka Prefecture, Miyazaki Prefecture, and Kagoshima Prefecture).