CAS meeting takes place on the second day of G20 Agri in Cuiabá (MT)

During the G20 Agriculture Working Group (AWG), Brazil's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, along with agriculture ministers and secretaries from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, held the 48th edition of the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS) on Wednesday, September 11th. This forum serves as a platform for consultation and coordination, defining the priorities of the agricultural agenda and addressing regional issues. 

Attendees included Carlos Giménez, Uruguay’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Juan Flores Lazo, Bolivia’s Minister of Rural and Land Development; Esteban Valenzuela, Chile’s Minister of Agriculture; Fernando Mattos, Paraguay’s Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fishing; Sergio Iraeta, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishing and temporary president of CAS; and Gabriel Delgado, the representative of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Brazil and current executive secretary of CAS. 

Minister Fávaro emphasized Brazil’s significant role as it takes on the G20 Presidency in 2024, the BRICS Presidency in 2025, and hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in 2025. “We have a unique opportunity to showcase Brazil's leadership in agricultural production, sustainability, and commitment to addressing climate change,” said Fávaro. 

The G20 meeting is co-chaired by Brazil’s Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock, Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture, and Fisheries and Aquaculture, reflecting the government’s cross-sectoral approach to enhancing resilience and sustainability in agriculture. Minister Fávaro highlighted this year’s focus on sustainability, resilience, international trade, biodiversity conservation, and the integration of knowledge and technology. 

During the meeting, ministers presented two ministerial statements: one regarding public policies for biotechnology and another concerning the application of criteria for the inclusion of chemical products.   

In the latter part of the meeting, technical representatives informed ministers about priority issues for their respective countries.   

Southern Agricultural Council (CAS) 

The CAS, composed of major food-producing countries, exemplifies how regional cooperation can sustainably strengthen global food security by promoting coordinated policies, information exchange, and consensus building—an approach that the G20 could adopt. 

Founded in 2003, the council is supported by IICA and is currently chaired by Argentina. Alongside its core group of six ministers, CAS is supported by regional technical working groups focused on Agricultural Policy Information and Analysis; Market Information Systems; Risk Management and Agricultural Insurance; Public Policies and Climate Change; Public Policies in Biotechnology; and Public Policies in Agri-Energy. 


Press information
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