Brics ministers meeting debates global trade

The Agriculture Ministers of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are meeting in Bonito (MS). This is the ninth meeting of the group's representatives.

In her opening speech at the event, Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) defended rules in international trade that allow equity between developed and developing countries.

“A truly free and fair agricultural trade would, without a doubt, allow for the spread of improved conditions in the countryside, where most of the world's poverty is concentrated. It would also trigger another virtuous cycle, in which greater decentralized production would guarantee greater access to adequate food and nutrition”, he said in a speech to his colleagues, gathered at the Eco Sesi Observatório Socioambiental.

The minister reaffirmed that protectionist measures and subsidies adopted by developed nations threaten the growth of agriculture in countries with less economic power.

“Protectionism in developed countries has threatened the viability of a green revolution in developing countries, by exposing them to unfair competition from subsidized goods and by denying access to important consumer markets.”

Tereza Cristina defended that global trade must be regulated by scientific principles, which will guarantee equal opportunities for nations in the production and commercialization of food. According to the minister, when countries fail to base themselves on science, they put investment and stimulation of innovation at risk, a fundamental resource for increasing productivity and quality of the food provided.

“As some developed countries abandon science-based principles in regulating food production and trade, not only fair trade is penalized, but the entire innovation ecosystem that would allow us to feed more people using fewer resources. By misinforming consumers, giving in to pressure groups and moving away from multilateral rules, certain important actors undermine the same objectives they claim to protect: the development of the poorest; democratic access to quality food; and the preservation of the environment”.

It was through innovation, highlighted the minister, that Brazil became one of the largest agricultural powers in the world, providing food for more than 1 billion people. Tereza Cristina highlighted that the future demands an increasingly productive and sustainable agricultural sector. And she cited the measures that the country has already been adopting to meet this goal, including the Low Carbon Agriculture Plan (ABC Plan), which helps rural producers adapt to climate change and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.

“In the case of Brazil, I can say that we are very proud of the environmental and economic sustainability of our agriculture. We work tirelessly to promote initiatives such as the recovery of degraded pastures, the expansion of direct planting areas, crop-livestock-forest integration, the adoption of biological nitrogen fixation techniques and the use of animal waste treatment technologies,” he said. .

Tereza Cristina recalled that the achievements achieved by Brics so far will be insufficient if they do not change the lives of citizens in each country. The minister called on her colleagues to ensure global practices that do not compromise the continuity of agriculture.

“The declaration that we will soon sign, our Declaration of Bonito, will have the banner of promoting innovation and actions to improve new solutions for food production systems. It reflects not only the advances of each of us, but also the advancement of our collective ambition. I highlight our joint commitment to facilitating international trade and the central role that rules drawn up with a scientific basis must have in this system”, he stated.

First to speak, Russian Deputy Minister Sergey Levin highlighted the importance of rural development in the country, as many families still seek to guarantee food security. The secretary of the Indian ministry, B. Pradhan, informed that one of the priorities is to achieve food security with sustainability and that the BRICS needs to improve relations between members to reach this objective. Currently, the agricultural sector is responsible for employing 58% of Indians.

For Chinese Vice Minister Taolin Zhang, Brics can be an important player in reducing global poverty. In China, the goal is to eliminate poverty by 2030. The country advocates reform in agricultural trade to expand production, improve infrastructure, promote technological innovation and connectivity. Zhang also said that Brics must take a stand against “negative protectionism”.

South African Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha highlighted the need to improve agricultural cooperation between countries. According to the representative, South Africans are committed to increasing production along with sustainability, prioritizing meat, grains, fruits, vegetables and wines. The country is trying to resume production after facing a drop in volume due to a severe drought.

The meeting in Bonito ends this Thursday (26).