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AGENDA ITEM 8.1

Report of the 27^th Session of the Committee on Agriculture

(28 September – 2 October 2020)  

Thank you Mr. Chairperson,

Indonesia is honored to make this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

G77 and China appreciates the FAO Management, COAG Secretariat and all the members for successfully organising the 27^th Session of the COAG on a virtual format from 28^th September 2020 – 2^nd October 2020.

The Group welcomes the main theme of COAG 27 on livestock sector contributions to achieving the SDGs.

We support the Committee’s discussion on the prevention, anticipation and response to high impact animal and plant diseases and pests.

We welcome the establishment of sub-committee on livestock according to rule 7.1 of Rules of procedure of COAG and endorse the terms of reference and rules of procedure of the Sub-Committee. We would like to know from the management regarding the composition of the Sub-Committee on Livestock and the time line.

We look forward for the Sub-Committee’s work on building a balanced narrative in terms of its contribution to food security and nutrition.

G77 and China welcomes the committee’s discussion on Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on food security and nutrition and recognizes the relevance of regional and international trade in ensuring access to food.

We also recognize FAO’s continued support to members in developing sustainable food systems to accelerate progress towards the achievement of 2030 agenda.

We encourage FAO to continue supporting the preparatory process towards the 2021 UN Food System Summit and look forward to a stronger involvement of Members in the Summit.

The Group welcomes the progress in the elaboration of the voluntary code of conduct for food loss and waste reduction and the role it can play in contributing to food loss and waste reduction globally and to sustainable food systems development and achieving SDGs, in particular SDG target 12.3, and looks forward to its further development.

We endorse the committee’s proposal regarding Rural Youth Action Plan as a living document which can be updated to align with new FAO objectives and emerging issues such as Covid-19 pandemic and, in this regard, look forward to its further revision by the Governing Bodies.

This also works towards enabling smallholder and family farmers for sustainable agriculture food systems.

The Group acknowledges the terms of reference of international platform for digital food and agriculture which will create synergies between international organisations and stakeholders and called for the inclusion of information on the reporting mechanisms through which voluntary guidelines on digital food and agriculture would be submitted to FAO Members for consideration through the Governing Bodies.

G77 and China also highlights the importance of the Action plan for the implementation of the FAO strategy on mainstreaming biodiversity across agricultural sectors and appreciates the discussions that were held by the Committee on this matter. We look forward to the finalization of the Action Plan through an inclusive consultation process.

The Group endorses global programme on sustainable dry land agriculture under the SDG monitoring framework under South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

We appreciate the progress of the Global Soil Partnership and finding of GSP evaluation and endorse the resolution for international exchange of soil samples for research purposes under Global Soil Network (GLOSOLAN).

However, we would like to know from the management the latest progress and the road map for Global Soil Partnership.

The Group recognises the Committee’s review on the implementation of the recommendations of 26th Session of the Committee and its Multi-Year programme of work of the Committee (MYPOW) for 2020-23.

Finally, G77 and China endorses the Committee’s proposal on the draft conference resolutions for an International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, International Year of Date Palm and International Day of Plant Health.

Thank you Mr. Chairperson.