On March 26, 2010, the Agriculture Ministers and Agrarian Development officials from the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India, and China – convened in Moscow, Russia, to discuss strategic cooperation in agricultural development and global food security. This meeting was a follow-up to the joint statement on global food security made at the BRIC Summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 16, 2009.

Key Points from the Meeting:

– The ministers endorsed the financial initiatives taken at the FAO 2009 World Food Summit in Rome and concurred on the essential need for a comprehensive approach to agricultural development within the BRIC nations. This strategy focuses on sustaining long-term interests and contributing to alleviating worldwide hunger.

– Recognizing the necessity of addressing global food security, the ministers confirmed the importance of reliable, stable production of essential food grains and of improving living standards. Emphasis was placed on the development and efficiency of small to medium agro-industrial units, rural development, and the productivity of family farms. This focus aims to further cooperation among the BRIC nations through sharing experiences and coordinating joint projects.

– A fair and non-discriminatory world market and trade system for food and agriculture are key to this endeavor. The ministers pointed out the significance of expediting the Doha round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Areas of Priority for Cooperation:

1. Creation of an agricultural information base system for BRIC countries, enabling a thorough analysis of food security conditions and coordination in forming national grain reserves.

2. Formulating a unified strategy to ensure that vulnerable populations within BRIC countries, which comprise 42% of the world’s population, have access to adequate food supplies.

3. Reducing the effects of climate change on agriculture and developing cooperative adaptive measures, including sharing best practices and formulating public policies.

4. Advancing agricultural technology cooperation and innovation, building a platform for long-term research and development collaboration.

An Expert working group was established to actively work on implementing the outlined measures and facilitate regular updates to the Agricultural and Agrarian Development Ministers of the BRIC countries, both through direct meetings and video conferencing.

Looking ahead, another meeting for these ministers is scheduled for 2011 to further the stated objectives and continue the collaborative effort towards bolstering global food security.