Brazil and Argentina ratify alliance to support safe and sustainable foodstuff supply

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Argentine delegation headed by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Luis Basterra and the Ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Scioli, attended several meetings aimed at seeking consensus in the region in order to face new challenges for the sector.

Argentina’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Luis Basterra and Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Tereza Cristina Correa da Costa Dias held an extended working meeting on March 9th in Brasilia to cement friendship, trade, cooperation and coordination of initiatives at the international level.

During the meeting, which was also attended by the president of INTA (National Agricultural Technology Institute) Susana Mirassou, and the vice-president of SENASA (National Food Safety and Quality Service) Carlos Milicevic, they emphasized the very significant progress in the bilateral agenda for market access, fulfilling the goals set in early 2020, based on the trust and reliability of the work of health services in both countries.

As a result of this work, both parties aligned their interests, which allowed them to resolve 49 of the 54 issues identified in early 2020, including resolutions to historical issues, such as pet food and shrimp, thereby opening markets for both countries’ products, which will boost bilateral trade and integrate production chains.

Tereza Cristina and Basterra agreed on the main work priorities for 2021, where the articulation and coordination of border controls is of particular relevance.

In addition, the authorities agreed on the need to reinforce work on agriculture within MERCOSUR and the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS). In this respect, they shared that both countries face common challenges in order to continue consolidating the region as a reliable, safe and environmentally friendly food supplier to the world, thereby stepping up the fight for food security. In particular, they stressed the value of the region’s perspective on the challenges faced, particularly in terms of sustainability in food production and payment for ecosystem services.

The Ministers reiterated the importance of sustainable development, based on respect for the three pillars on equal footing: economic, social and environmental, as well as a fair transition to such development. Consequently, they also agreed on the need to coordinate actions, joining other countries in the region with convergent views, particularly in preparation for the United Nations Food Systems Summit in September 2021.

Basterra and Tereza Cristina also stressed the historical relationship of cooperation between INTA and EMBRAPA (Brazilian government-owned agricultural research corporation), with 19 projects executed between 2009 and 2014. Along these lines, they noted that last year the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two institutes was renewed for another 5 years, which will enable further progress on strategic issues such as aquaculture, livestock, biotechnology, family agriculture, genetic resources and forestry, among others.

Finally, they reiterated the strategic importance of working jointly in favor of the adoption of science-based sanitary and phytosanitary measures, as well as the commitment to cooperate on issues such as agro-ecology, bio-inputs, animal welfare and the implementation of a pilot program for joint trade promotion.

Source: Argentina government