Opportunities to reduce food wastage and techniques for improving production security were key points for discussion at the G20 meeting of Agriculture Ministers in Turkey last week, according to senator Richard Colbeck, Australian parliamentary secretary to the minister for agriculture.
Colbeck said ministers from all G20 were able to agree on practical steps to help develop the global agricultural sector, building on the G20 Food Security and Nutrition Framework that leaders supported at the G20 conference in Brisbane in 2014.
“We had productive discussions on our policies to ensure food security in our own countries and in developing countries,” Colbeck explained. “Discussions also focused on sustainable food systems and how to reduce food loss and waste in support of food security. We agreed on establishing a platform to share information in measuring and reducing food loss and waste, building on work underway—this is a great outcome and will help our agricultural industries capitalise on international expertise and commercial opportunities.”
Colbeck said a sustainable food system in Australia requires the development of vibrant, innovative and competitive agricultural policies.
“This includes things like ensuring our farmers can trade, through free trade agreements and technical support to grow and maintain market access, as well as our unique public-private rural research and development system which helps Australian farmers apply new ideas to innovate and maximise productivity in a sustainable way,” Colbeck said. “In turn this helps create jobs and investment, help build stronger rural and regional communities, and contribute to food availability in Australia and our trading partners.”
