G20 Members (Turkey, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indıa, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the EU) represent 85% of the world’s economy, 70% of the global agricultural economy and the two thirds of the world’s population.

This Meeting which will be organized with the initiatives of the Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock is also particularly important as it will be organized for the second time in the history of G20. “G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting” which will assemble the Agriculture Ministers of G20 Members comprising the majority of global economy as well as those of the invited countries (Singapore, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Spain), the Heads and senior representatives of many international organizations that perform activities in this field (FAO, OECD, WTO, WB, IFPRI, WFP, IFAD, CIHEAM)* will significantly contribute to the international visibility of our Country and our Ministry.

While 805 million people still struggle to survive due to hunger in the 21st century, 600 million individuals suffer from obesity problem. In our world where 1.3 billion tons of produced foods are annually wasted or lost because of various reasons, it will be possible to feed those many people who suffer from hunger even if the half of this quantity is recovered through the measures to be taken.

The subject of “Food Losses and Waste within the Scope of the Establishment of Sustainable Food Systems” has been identified as the main theme of the Meeting under the leadership of our Ministry. A joint “Communiqué”, which is drawn up on   the subject of food losses and waste through the opinions of G20 Members, will be accepted at the end of the Meeting.

Addressing the subject of food losses and waste for the first time at the level of Agriculture Ministers in the agenda of G20, one of the platforms with the highest representative power in the world, is also important not only for Members, but also for developing countries with low income level. Moreover, through the food saving which will be ensured in the long term, this Meeting will  serve the aims of protecting natural resources and leaving a more sustainable environment for upcoming generations as well.

Our Honorable Minister Mehmet Mehdi EKER will separately hold bilateral meetings with the Agriculture Ministers of the USA, China, Italy, Japan, Canada and the Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner of the European Union and cooperation agreements will be signed on different subjects.

G20 activities are implemented in the form of multi-year programs. The activities initiated during the presidency of our Country will shed light on the activities to be performed by the subsequent presidencies in the field of agriculture and accordingly, contribute to the solution of the problems of agricultural sector at global level.