G20 Agri Ministers’ meet: Russia distances from parts of outcome document; China against Ukraine mention

“Paragraphs 3 and 4 are taken from the Bali Leaders’ Declaration. Russia dissociated itself from Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this… China stated that the meeting outcome should not include any reference to the Ukraine crisis,” it mentioned.

While paragraph 3 and 4 have reference to the Ukraine war, the paragraph 5 states, “We underline the importance of full, timely, improved and continued implementation by all relevant stakeholders of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the UN Secretariat, that was brokered by Türkiye and the UN on 22 July 2022 as a package, to reduce global food insecurity and to enable unimpeded flows of more food and fertilisers to developing countries in need.”

The agriculture ministers of the G20 countries, however, reiterated their “commitment to food security and nutrition for all, through the development of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture and food systems.”

“While we acknowledge the long-term increase in global food production to meet the needs of a growing population, we are gravely concerned by the worsening global food insecurity situation and intensifying malnutrition rates, in several developing and least-developed countries that are compounded by poverty, the Covid-19 pandemic, deepening climate change and biodiversity loss crises, and ongoing conflicts in the world,” reads the document.

“We note with concern the high prices, ongoing disruptions in global supply chains, and excessive price volatility of food and fertilisers. Resilient, uninterrupted and reliable supply chains are essential for stabilising the availability and affordability of food for all, especially for people in vulnerable situations including in particular women and girls during emergencies and humanitarian crises,” it said.

“In the context of systemic shocks, geopolitical tensions and conflicts, we highlight the urgency of meeting global food security and nutrition needs and facilitating robust food and fertiliser supplies,” it added.

They also agreed on Seven Deccan High Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition 2023 and expressed their commitment to champion these High Level Principles.