Ministers' Meeting on Agriculture
23/09/2024
The G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture will be held at the Castello Maniace in Siracusa, on the island of Ortigia, from September 26 to 28, 2024.
Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, will chair the sessions. Participants will include the G7 Ministers, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, as well as the heads of the three UN agencies in Rome (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the OECD and CGIAR.
In line with the work carried out in previous G7 Agriculture Ministerial meetings, the discussions will focus on the resilience and sustainability of agricultural and food systems, articulated through the following priority thematic areas identified by the Italian Presidency: (1) science and innovation in agriculture for climate change adaptation; (2) empowering young generations as agents of change in agriculture; (3) the contribution of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture to food security; (4) the G7’s role in the development of agriculture on the African continent.
Africa will be at the forefront of the first working session on September 26, titled “G7 Forum for African Agriculture“, which will also be open to a representation of African Agriculture Ministers from various regions of the continent, invited in agreement with the African Union.
The three working sessions of the Forum will address: (a) the Post-Malabo Agenda process and its implementation beyond 2025; (b) investments in the agricultural sector in Africa; and (c) strengthening cooperation between the G7 and Africa in agriculture.
The G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting will be preceded by the “Young Hackathon” (25-26 September), which will gather students from agricultural schools, teachers, and young farmers representing the G7 countries. They will engage in discussions on themes that will be deliberated by the Ministers shortly thereafter. During the working session on 27 September, these youth delegates will have the opportunity to directly present their conclusions and proposals to the Ministers.
In conjunction with the G7 Agriculture Meeting, from 21 to 29 September 2024, the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry will host “DiviNazione,” a public exhibit in Syracuse, on the island of Ortigia. This will serve as an important international showcase, featuring institutions, agricultural associations, and private enterprises to highlight Italy’s national excellence in agriculture, fishing, aquaculture, and the nursery/forestry sector, as well as innovative technologies related to fishing and agriculture, in which Italy is a global leader.