Federal Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner and Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reaffirmed their shared goal of a world without hunger and poverty on Monday.
During their meeting in Berlin, Ilse Aigner stated: "Agriculture is the core issue for the development of poor countries. In many developing countries, there is enormous agricultural potential which is not fully utilized. Responsible investments in agriculture and agricultural research that is tailored to the needs of developing countries are key factors in the fight against hunger and poverty."
Bill Gates said: "I applaud Germany's leadership in global development; their aid investments and private sector partnerships have helped fund many successful programs, helping lift millions out of hunger and poverty. In the past fifteen years, we have seen huge progress, with the number of people living in extreme poverty reduced by half. By setting clear goals, such as a productivity target in agriculture, we can continue to deliver real progress and save lives."
Aigner praised the Foundation's efforts in the fight against hunger and poverty. The Foundation has already made over USD 2.2 billion available for agricultural development projects.
The critical importance of responsible investments in agriculture was underlined just last week with the International Agriculture Ministers' Summit in Berlin. In the final communiqué
that Aigner presented to Gates, over 80 government representatives from around the world highlighted the necessity to increase sustainable investments in agriculture in order to secure future viability. They emphasized that investments must be transparent and that human rights such as the right to food must be respected. With regard to the transformation processes required to strengthen agriculture, Aigner and Gates ascribed particular significance to the Committee on World Food Security in Rome. The negotiations on criteria for responsible investments began here recently. "The summit's vote will give the negotiations a tremendous boost. I will work to ensure that the goals agreed at the Agriculture Ministers' Summit are implemented", Aigner promised.
"Strengthening the agricultural sector primarily means making sustainable investments into agriculture", Aigner said during the discussion. She underlined the importance of producing food where it is needed and by the people who live there. "We have to find new ways of adapting agricultural production methods to the conditions in developing countries. Small farmers need help in the form of know-how, location-adapted seeds and modified infrastructure if they are to meet the huge challenges." She went on to say that food security was one of the main challenges of the 21st century.
African governments are leading the way in driving increased agricultural productivity through the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Plan (CAADP). This year will see even greater efforts to prioritize agriculture, when African countries come together for the 10th anniversary of the Maputo Declaration; an opportunity to renew their commitments to spending 10% of their budgets on agriculture and achieving 6% annual productivity growth.
Efforts to strengthen the CAADP process must also be supported by G8 countries, who have an important role to play in encouraging effective implementation of country plans and ensuring they deliver against their L'Aquila promises. Germany will hold the presidency of the G8 in 2015, the year in which the Millennium Development Goals are due, and as a global leader, they have a responsibility to be at the forefront of this work.
Aigner emphasized the crucial importance of agricultural research to safeguard global food supplies in the long-term. Spending by the Federal Government for research and development has risen 20% since 2005. The BMELV is currently spending approx. EUR 545 million or roughly ten per cent of its overall budget on research activities - part of which is targeted towards international development projects.
During their meeting in Berlin, Ilse Aigner stated: "Agriculture is the core issue for the development of poor countries. In many developing countries, there is enormous agricultural potential which is not fully utilized. Responsible investments in agriculture and agricultural research that is tailored to the needs of developing countries are key factors in the fight against hunger and poverty."
Bill Gates said: "I applaud Germany's leadership in global development; their aid investments and private sector partnerships have helped fund many successful programs, helping lift millions out of hunger and poverty. In the past fifteen years, we have seen huge progress, with the number of people living in extreme poverty reduced by half. By setting clear goals, such as a productivity target in agriculture, we can continue to deliver real progress and save lives."
Aigner praised the Foundation's efforts in the fight against hunger and poverty. The Foundation has already made over USD 2.2 billion available for agricultural development projects.
The critical importance of responsible investments in agriculture was underlined just last week with the International Agriculture Ministers' Summit in Berlin. In the final communiqué
that Aigner presented to Gates, over 80 government representatives from around the world highlighted the necessity to increase sustainable investments in agriculture in order to secure future viability. They emphasized that investments must be transparent and that human rights such as the right to food must be respected. With regard to the transformation processes required to strengthen agriculture, Aigner and Gates ascribed particular significance to the Committee on World Food Security in Rome. The negotiations on criteria for responsible investments began here recently. "The summit's vote will give the negotiations a tremendous boost. I will work to ensure that the goals agreed at the Agriculture Ministers' Summit are implemented", Aigner promised.
"Strengthening the agricultural sector primarily means making sustainable investments into agriculture", Aigner said during the discussion. She underlined the importance of producing food where it is needed and by the people who live there. "We have to find new ways of adapting agricultural production methods to the conditions in developing countries. Small farmers need help in the form of know-how, location-adapted seeds and modified infrastructure if they are to meet the huge challenges." She went on to say that food security was one of the main challenges of the 21st century.
African governments are leading the way in driving increased agricultural productivity through the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Plan (CAADP). This year will see even greater efforts to prioritize agriculture, when African countries come together for the 10th anniversary of the Maputo Declaration; an opportunity to renew their commitments to spending 10% of their budgets on agriculture and achieving 6% annual productivity growth.
Efforts to strengthen the CAADP process must also be supported by G8 countries, who have an important role to play in encouraging effective implementation of country plans and ensuring they deliver against their L'Aquila promises. Germany will hold the presidency of the G8 in 2015, the year in which the Millennium Development Goals are due, and as a global leader, they have a responsibility to be at the forefront of this work.
Aigner emphasized the crucial importance of agricultural research to safeguard global food supplies in the long-term. Spending by the Federal Government for research and development has risen 20% since 2005. The BMELV is currently spending approx. EUR 545 million or roughly ten per cent of its overall budget on research activities - part of which is targeted towards international development projects.
