In an extraordinary session on Tuesday 21 April, the G20 Agriculture Ministers stressed the need for “targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary emergency measures” to support the agricultural sector in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis (see EUROPE 12469/10).
The meeting was organised by the Saudi Arabian presidency of the G20.
The ‘G20 Agriculture’ also stressed the need to ensure food security for all and the need to intensify efforts to maintain the activities and livelihoods of farmers and agribusinesses.
Didier Guillaume, the French Minister, recalled the strategic nature of the agriculture and food sector to guarantee the supply of healthy, safe, sustainable and traceable food to populations throughout the world.
The G20 communiqué notes that there have been no disruptions in supply chains and that there are currently no staple product supply problems.
The European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, stressed the importance “that we commit ourselves to refrain from introducing any new restrictions on agri-food trade”. He also stressed that farms “rely on access to foreign markets and the helping hands of seasonal workers”. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)