APEC delivers Niigata Declaration on APEC Food Security
Meeting for the first time here on Saturday and Sunday, APEC Ministers recognized the region's vulnerability to food price spikes, population increases, 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
- Improving 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, Asia Development Bank, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the World Food Program, the World Bank, the United Nations' High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Crisis 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.