The new platform would support regional trade and offer improved opportunities for small-scale farms.
The agriculture ministers of the BRICS+ countries met in Brazil on April 17, focusing on promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. The BRICS countries are significant in global agriculture, as they have a large share of the world’s agricultural resources and production capacity. Together, they account for 75 percent of global agricultural production, primarily comprising small family farms.
The representatives of the 11 member countries of the bloc signed a joint statement aimed at strengthening their commitment to sustainable agricultural development, combating hunger, and reducing rural inequalities. The statement emphasizes that the BRICS+ countries are committed to achieving common global goals and highlights the shared responsibility of nations in addressing agricultural challenges. Considering that family farms dominate the agriculture sector of the BRICS+ countries, the joint statement emphasizes the importance of supporting smallholder farmers, particularly through innovation and technology, which can increase crop yields and incomes. The declaration stresses the importance of gender equality, acknowledging the crucial role of women in attaining food security.
A central element of the joint declaration is the emphasis on equitable access to food, particularly during times of global crisis. Member countries are encouraged to stabilize access to food through regulatory measures, public policy instruments, and support for family farms. The initiative aims to support low-income communities by promoting food supplies from small farms, while supporting sustainable practices. Cooperation between member states is also highlighted as a means of responding to food shortages or price increases.
To address these challenges, participants discussed the details of a new agricultural trade platform that would facilitate international agricultural trade. The primary objective of the new programme is to reduce unnecessary barriers, promote transparency, and facilitate the exchange of agricultural products between BRICS+ member states. The initiative would encourage the use of digital certification, aiming to reduce bureaucracy, lower the risk of fraud, and minimize the possibility of counterfeiting.
The BRICS+ countries decided to create the platform last year when adopting the Kazan Declaration. In contrast to the current major platforms dominated by the global North, a new platform controlled by the BRICS countries could offer better market opportunities for agricultural producers in its member states. The platform dedicated to serving the interests of BRICS+ countries would encourage regional trade and cooperation among member countries, reducing their dependence on Western-centric trading platforms. This, in turn, would be of significant influence on the business strategies of existing global platforms. It appears that, in the event of a two-tier global economy resulting from technological rivalry between the US and China, as well as their partners, the BRICS member states aim to minimize food security risks.
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