Bilateral Meeting with H.E. Ophelia Nick, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Germany

Chapada dos Guimarães, Brazil - On the margins of his participation in the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ meeting, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with H.E. Ophelia Nick, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture of Germany, to exchange views on the current global food security situation and to discuss ongoing and future collaboration between FAO and Germany.

Director-General Qu acknowledged Germany’s critical role in supporting FAO’s global initiatives. He praised Germany's commitment to food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

Parliamentary State Secretary Nick shed light on Germany’s contributions to initiatives that promote agroecology and organic food production, areas where the country has shown leadership. She also conveyed her appreciation for the invitation extended to participate in the upcoming World Food Forum.

In this regard, the Director-General emphasized that the WFF was an important platform to showcase Germany’s achievements in sustainable agriculture and innovation. With over 10,000 participants expected for this year, it offered a unique opportunity for Germany to engage with global partners.

Both sides discussed the evolving mechanisms to safeguard food security, including the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), the foodstuff trade disruptions deriving from ongoing conflicts across the globe and other non-tariff barriers. Both parties agreed on the need for a nuanced approach to managing trade, while ensuring that farmers’ livelihoods are protected.

The Director-General also invited Germany to scale up its investment in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable countries, recognizing Germany’s ongoing support and called for further collaboration in strengthening FAO’s efforts in assisting these countries to address food security and climate resilience challenges among others.

Both sides agreed on the importance of looking forward and expanding collaboration especially through the platforms established and facilitated by FAO.