Steenhuisen hopes G20 will address threats to agricultural sytems amid world food pressures

DURBAN - Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen hopes this year’s G20 will urgently address threats to the agricultural industry amid concerns about pressures on the world food systems.

Steenhuisen was in discussion with delegates from G20 member states at the G20 Agriculture Working Group in Durban on Wednesday.

The global state of the industry and food security are among the issues on the agenda.

The three-day meetings with G20 member states are part of a series of meetings that South Africa will host during its year-long presidency.

Steenhuisen said rising input costs, unpredictable climate shocks and constrained fiscal space are among pressing issues that need to be addressed to reduce the impact on small-scale producers and rural communities.

He believes the meetings will present opportunities and solutions to make the agricultural industry resilient.

“Opportunity because never has the world had such scientific insights, such as technological advancements and shared platforms like this to do something about it. This is certainly a defining time for agriculture.”

Policymakers and industry leaders are expected to consolidate their recommendations before the big leaders’ summit at the end of the year.