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.
“The purposes of trade mission discussions are to make sure Canadian farmers are represented well abroad”
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.
“The G7 Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting allows us to discuss and build consensus around some of today’s most challenging issues,” MacAulay stated. “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.”
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.
Source: Meatbusiness