Agriculture Working Group unveils Ministerial Declaration after five years

At the end of the first day of discussions at the G20 Agriculture Working Group (AWG) ministerial meeting in Mato Grosso on Thursday evening (12), delegations reached a consensus to establish a Ministerial Declaration. 

“We’ve achieved a consensus. After five years where Working Groups produced only letters, we’ve finally overcome our differences and created a Declaration,” stated Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro. 

The AWG ministerial meeting, which began Thursday afternoon, will continue through Friday (13), when the Declaration will be officially presented. 

This year’s AWG meetings included four sessions held in February, April, May, and June, culminating in the September sessions in Mato Grosso. The final phase saw the highest participation since the Working Group’s inception in 2011, with 23 ministers and 43 delegations from G20 member countries, invited nations, and international organizations. 

The key topics guiding the discussions among the Ministers of Agriculture and related areas included sustainability in agrifood systems across various dimensions; enhancing international trade to support food and nutrition security; recognizing the crucial roles of family farmers, rural and indigenous communities in building sustainable, healthy, and inclusive food systems; and promoting the sustainable integration of fisheries and aquaculture into global value chains. 

Roberto Perosa, Brazil’s Secretary of Commerce and International Relations in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and AWG coordinator explained that the Ministerial Declaration will guide member countries in implementing local policies. 

“When a Declaration is not achieved, we only produce a summary letter of agreements. However, a Declaration holds countries accountable to civil society,” Perosa noted. 

Minister Fávaro emphasized that the Declaration represents a commitment from all participants to implement the measures outlined in the document, which will be presented to heads of state at the Leaders’ Summit in November. 

“This is a significant step forward, showcasing our diplomatic strength, capability, and resilience in dialogue. It demonstrates Brazil, under President Lula's leadership, taking a leading role in global diplomacy,” Fávaro concluded. 



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