UK Urges Enhanced Action on Global Food Security at G20 Meeting

This week, Thérèse Coffey, the Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs, reaffirmed the UK’s dedication to enhancing global food security through sustainable agricultural practices.

During her address at the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Hyderabad, India, she emphasized the importance of countries collaborating to leverage the power of nature in delivering food to communities today and for future generations.

The meeting centered on identifying actionable steps and solutions to address global food security and nutrition. Discussions included transitioning to sustainable agriculture to minimize environmental impacts while enhancing food security, and ensuring that agricultural systems are resilient to various challenges.

Ministers also examined ways to create more sustainable food supply chains, aiming to mitigate issues like deforestation due to unsustainable farming practices. They highlighted the necessity of long-term strategies and support for farmers and rural communities to sustain food production for an expanding population.

Thérèse Coffey stated:

Prioritizing the development of resilient food security must be an ongoing concern for the G20, with sustainable agriculture at the core of our initiatives.

In addition to harnessing science, technology, and innovation, we must recognize that preserving and supporting the power of nature is crucial and, in many instances, the most effective and cost-efficient way to implement solutions on a large scale.

These discussions reflect the UK’s ongoing commitment to fostering and implementing more sustainable agricultural practices globally, following the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit held in Washington last month. At the Summit, the UK announced a £3 million investment to support a new consortium focused on developing, testing, and scaling up alternative fertilizers that enhance soil health and agricultural productivity.

This initiative also complements progress in the UK to assist farmers in operating sustainable, profitable, and efficient farming businesses. This includes over £168 million in grants available to farmers this year to foster innovation, enhance food production, improve animal welfare, and protect the environment, while also speeding up the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Recently, up to £30 million was awarded to innovative farming projects aimed at enhancing food production, advancing towards net-zero goals, and building a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector. Additionally, the second round of Landscape Recovery was launched last month to support up to 25 additional projects for the protection and restoration of thousands of acres within the English landscape.