Canada has lead role to play in international talks on agriculture
OTTAWA -The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) was pleased to see Canada's level of involvement in the G20 Agriculture Ministers' meeting and, upon initial analysis, the CFA supports the overall messaging in the Action Plan emerging from the meeting held June 22-23 in Paris, France.
"The CFA was encouraged to see Minister Ritz emphasize maintaining a competitive and innovative sector, recognizing these factors are key to farmer profitability and Canada's capacity to respond to the global food challenge," said CFA President, Ron Bonnett.
"It is a positive signal the G20 is highlighting agriculture and the CFA is pleased that Canada played a positive, solutions-oriented role through Minister Ritz in the discussions," added Bonnett.
In lead-up to the Ministers' meeting, the CFA President participated in the G120 Farm Leaders meeting on June 16-17 in Paris to discuss challenges and solutions for price volatility, climate change and sustainable growth with more than 120 farm organizations across 75 countries.
The farm leaders called on the Ministers to address the destabilizing effect extreme market volatility has on food production.
"The CFA fully supports the call for greater transparency in food commodity markets - especially in unregulated financial exchanges - if we ever hope to effectively address the global food supply challenge we face. There also needs to be a clear differentiation between damaging price volatility and necessary price increases - the knee-jerk reaction should not be to drive down food prices," said Bonnett.
"To just decrease food prices would actually exasperate the problem. Those on the front-line - farmers - are experiencing increased input and fuel costs and would end up on the losing end if food prices were artificially lowered. Farmers will need special risk management tools in order to manage volatility. There is risk involved with rapidly rising input costs as well as uncertainty in the market price farmers get for their products. CFA will work with the government to develop risk management tools that are effective in addressing this volatility."
Bonnett used this forum to reiterate the need for Canada to promote a balanced trade position, recognizing the positive role marketing instruments such as supply management play in market access and profitability for farmers.
Canada can be a valuable leader with the G20 when it comes to developing a common agriculture and food policy. The CFA urges the government to work with industry on a National Food Strategy and believes this will strengthen and streamline the position of Canadian agriculture in international forums.
The CFA encourages continued solution-oriented discussions between government and industry at both the domestic and international level.
Relevant links:
G20 Agriculture Ministers' Action Plan
