JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness met this morning to discuss the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission (FARM) initiative for food security in the most vulnerable countries.
President Macron announced the launch of this international initiative on 24 March, in conjunction with our European Union, G7 and African Union partners.
FARM's objective is to prevent the catastrophic effects, for global food security, of the war Russia is waging in Ukraine. Indeed, in many vulnerable countries it is having dramatic consequences on price levels, production, and the access to and supply of grain ? especially wheat. Under no circumstances must agricultural products become a weapon of war used for geopolitical purposes.
The initiative is based on three pillars:
? A trade pillar to ease tensions on the agricultural markets, guarantee full transparency on flows and stocks and combat unjustified trade barriers,
? A solidarity pillar to support Ukraine's agricultural capabilities, ensure access to agricultural commodities at reasonable prices in the countries most affected, and prepare to alleviate the war's effects on the level of agricultural production,
? A production pillar to strengthen agricultural capabilities sustainably in the countries most affected.
To guarantee access to food for everyone, France is promoting a multilateral and inclusive approach for FARM in which the various international stakeholders, international organizations, and private sector and civil society representatives will have their full place.
The three ministers concluded this first meeting by reiterating their shared determination to implement this initiative with all the partners, first and foremost in the framework of the European Union and the French presidency of the Council.
?We must act to avoid a food crisis. I would like to launch, in direct collaboration with the African Union, the FARM Initiative: Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission.? https://t.co/LvfB6UMyN3
? France Diplomacy???? (@francediplo_EN) March 25, 2022