Agriculture in the “New Normal”: Future-proofing food systems for a changing world
European Commission
Time: Friday, 20. January 2023, 01:30 p.m. – 03:00 p.m.
Languages: English, German, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish and Polish
Summary:
The High Level Panel hosted by European Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, addressed the major themes of this year’s GFFA along the following three axes: how to make agri-food supply chains more resilient against systemic shocks; how to balance the world’s expanding demand for food with the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change; and what role agriculture can play in preserving biodiversity. Prof. Swinnen, the director-general of IFPRI, introduced each question with a brief presentation of the latest indicators in the given field. Panelists then engaged in a vibrant and unscripted exchange on each of these issues, bringing in their distinct regional experiences with both climatic adaptation and shifting patterns of trade, particularly the Ministers of Agriculture from Albania and Australia, Ms Krifca and Mr Watt. Commissioner Wojciechowski highlighted the sustainability objectives of the EU’s Green Deal and the new Common Agricultural Policy, which entered into force in January 2023, and recalled the significant European contribution to supply chain resilience and food security around the world. Meanwhile, WTO Deputy Director-General Paugham emphasized the often underrated role that trade can play in ensuring the economies of scale and diversity of markets needed for a more efficient use of agricultural resources, but also the progress made on mainstreaming sustainability along the entire value chain in line with the rules-based multilateral trade system.