Spain: García Tejerina defends the role of agriculture as an agent of economic development
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Isabel García Tejerina, has claimed the role of agriculture and the food industry as agents of economic development that contribute to the fight against poverty and income inequality, especially in countries . García Tejerina, who has made these statements during his speech at the conference of ministers and senior officials of Agriculture G20 held in Xian (China), said the importance of this meeting to establish a consensus that promotes sustainable development agrarian.
The Minister welcomed the fact that food security and sustainable agricultural growth still present in the global political agenda. For García Tejerina, the impetus to sustainable development involves an agricultural innovation, improving global food, Agricultural governance, and contribution to the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In this context, the minister warned about the new uncertainties that the XXI century has brought to the primary sector, such as the extreme volatility of agricultural prices and climate change, adding to all of this the continue urbanization of the world population and the need to improve production factors. In his view, it is a priority to ensure sufficient food production around the globe, through effective investments, technological improvements, balanced use of water and the use of generic material adapted to environmental conditions and, in general, all that apply the challenge of the Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development.
Specifically, García Tejerina has advocated encouraging research in agriculture, fisheries and food material to contribute to increased productivity in the sector and support investment in agricultural infrastructure. Also she believes it’s necessary to work for making the agricultural markets more transparent and effective.
Agricultural policies with a global approach
The minister raised the sharing of experiences of different countries in agricultural matters to adopt the necessary measures, with a comprehensive approach that makes grow agricultural productivity. It also has referred to other benefits that agriculture contributes to the economy of each country, as backbone of the territory and main livelihood of rural areas.
For García Tejerina, agricultural policies must promote the economic development of farmers in each country and at the same time allow to improve trade relations between the different parts of the world, promoting cooperation and exchange of agricultural knowledge. In particular, the Minister has shown the support of Spain to initiatives such as the Government of China to strengthen trade links between Asia and Europe.
Priority to innovation and technology
On the other hand, García Tejerina has referred to the efforts made by the Government of Spain to ensure a more appropriate and rational water management. He also mentioned the policies developed to ensure balanced negotiations between the various links in the food chain.
The Spanish responsible for Agriculture has stressed the importance that Spain attaches to the scientific and technological innovation, why it has designed a specific program for the food industry, which seeks the exchange and sharing of knowledge between the University and the rural world.
Finally, she’s reiterated Spain’s support to the political commitment of ministers of agriculture of the G20 to strengthen agricultural policy related to Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030. To the minister, a joint work is the way for facing issues of global concern in the field of food security and nutrition.
Source: MAGRAMA
