Minister MacAulay wraps up successful G7 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting

OTTAWA, Oct. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada is growing and promoting trade for its farmers and food processors, which helps to ensure a strong and vibrant agricultural sector with good middle-class jobs.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, continued his European agricultural trade mission, concluding G7 agricultural meetings in Bergamo, Italy, as well as a series of bilateral meetings with European Union (EU) officials while in Belgium earlier in the week.

In Bergamo, Minister MacAulay and his G7 counterparts endorsed a communiqué following two days of plenary sessions, where they discussed issues ranging from agricultural risk management practices to food security and migration – building a solid foundation for their upcoming World Food Day sessions and celebrations in Rome.

Minister MacAulay held bilateral meetings with his agriculture counterparts from the EU, Italy and Germany. These meetings focused on discussing issues of interest to the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as the importance of trade.

In Parma, the Minister conducted market development activities. In Belgium, the Minister met with European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, as well as with EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, where he brought up opportunities and the way forward for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector in a post-CETA Europe. Minister MacAulay also met with European industry associations, including European Livestock and Meat Trades Union, COCERAL and Fediol, before touring the Port of Antwerp, a major hub for Europe-bound agriculture goods from Canada.

The purposes of trade mission discussions are to make sure Canadian farmers are represented well abroad while creating more opportunities for the middle-class within the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Minister MacAulay continues his agricultural trade mission tomorrow in Rome, where he will give remarks at the United Nations' World Food Day ceremonies attended by His Holiness Pope Francis.

Quote

"The G7 Agricultural Ministers' Meeting allows us to discuss and build consensus around some of today's most challenging issues. This year, Ministers agreed that the best way to fight world hunger is to strengthen the family farm through stronger risk management for farmers; a stronger role for farmers in the food chain – especially for young farmers and women; and open, inclusive trade."

- Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick facts

• The G7 nations include Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. These nations contain 10.3 percent of the world's population, and are responsible for 34 percent of the world's exports.
• The G7's discussion of agricultural management was informed by analysis from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This analysis used Canada as an example for other countries of how to organize and manage business risks in agriculture.

Additional Links

• Communique for the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture
• CETA Opens Doors for Canadian Farmers and Food Processors at Major European Trade Show
• Minister MacAulay Heads Trade Mission to Europe

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SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada