APEC Issues Declaration On Food Security

APEC Issues Declaration On Food Security

Issued by the 1st APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security

Niigata, Japan, 17 October 2010 – At the conclusion of the 1st APEC Ministerial Meeting on Food Security, APEC ministers adopted the Niigata Declaration on APEC Food Security.

Meeting for the first time, in Niigata, Japan on Saturday and Sunday, APEC Ministers recognized the region’s vulnerability to food price spikes, population increases and constraints on agricultural production and how these issues impact long-term food security.

They stated that trade plays a key role in food security. Improved food security in the region would contribute to the attainment of APEC’s human security goals and assist the implementation of the APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy.

APEC member economies agreed to collectively pursue shared goals of sustainable development of the agricultural sector and facilitation of investment, trade and markets.

Ministers agreed that cooperation is required in order to help adapt to, and mitigate, climate change and to enhance disaster preparedness in the agricultural sector to help the region achieve a stable supply of food for its people. They agreed on the following actions:

• Expanding food supply capacity

• Enhancing disaster preparedness in agriculture

• Developing rural communities

• Confronting challenges in climate change and natural resource management

Ministers also agreed that food security cannot be achieved without stable, efficient and equitable distribution systems that can deliver food to the whole population. To accomplish the goal of facilitation of investment, trade and markets, Ministers agreed that APEC economies should cooperate to:

• Promote investment in agriculture

• Facilitate trade in food and agricultural products

• Strengthen confidence in agricultural markets

• Improve agribusiness environment

• Improve food safety practices

Ministers also endorsed an APEC Action Plan on Food Security, which identifies specific activities to be implemented by APEC economies to strengthen regional food security.

With inputs from Food and Agriculture Organization, Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Food Program, the World Bank, the United Nations’ High-Level Task Force and the International Fund for Agricultural Development during the plenary session, Ministers recognized that meaningful consultation with relevant stakeholders is critical to making sustained progress towards our food security goals.

APEC Food Ministers will convey the outcomes of their meeting to APEC Leaders in November when they meet in Yokohama, Japan.

ENDS

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