Mapa discusses agricultural sustainability and international trade with the Australian Embassy

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), through the Secretariat of Innovation, Sustainable Development, Irrigation and Cooperatives (SDI), met on Monday (20/03) with representatives of the Australian Embassy in Brasília, to discuss themes related to sustainable agricultural production and its consequences in terms of international trade.

The secretary of SDI, Renata Miranda, welcomed the new agricultural advisor at the Australian Embassy in Brasília, Nektarios Tsirbas, and highlighted the importance of frank dialogue on sustainable agriculture, following the example of what the Secretariat has maintained with other interlocutors such as the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union, in a scenario in which legitimate discussions about sustainability can negatively affect populations in developing countries, by inhibiting regional production and hindering global free trade.

Brazil and Australia, in addition to their continental dimensions, share the relevance of the agricultural sector for the national economies. In this sense, as agricultural powers, they defend the expansion of discussions on sustainability, focusing not only on the environmental aspect, which is extremely relevant, but also on increasing agricultural productivity, adding value, valuing local production, fair international trade, climate security and strengthening tropical science.

“Given the sensitivity of the topic, discussions on ongoing domestic legislation in several countries on sustainability and international trade must also reflect the social and economic aspects, which are fundamental to guaranteeing a dignified life for the rural population in regions producing agricultural products”, said secretary Renata. 

The countries committed to intensifying the rapprochement between the competent areas in order to favor the sharing of scientific research and successful practical experiences, identify complementarities in public policies and coordinate common interests in international debates, not only among themselves, but with other countries with which Brazil and Australia have already been maintaining dialogues.

Also participating in the meeting were the director of the Department of Reforestation and Recovery of Degraded Areas (Deflo), from SDI, Pedro Neto and, through the Australian Embassy, ​​the senior policy and research officer, Jéssica Gomes, and the research officer, Eduardo Sanchez Ferreyra.