The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has expressed strong support for the inclusion of fisheries, aquaculture, and family farming as priorities in this year’s G20 agenda. These sectors play a crucial role in ensuring global nutrition and supporting livelihoods, particularly in developing nations.
During the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting in Mato Grosso, Brazil, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted the need for sustainable growth in fisheries and aquaculture to meet rising food demands and address global nutritional challenges. He emphasized FAO’s “Blue Transformation” strategy, which aims to ensure aquatic food systems can continue feeding the growing global population in a sustainable manner.
The G20 Agriculture Working Group’s Ministerial Declaration recognized FAO’s Blue Transformation Roadmap 2022-2030 as a key framework for long-term sustainability in these sectors. The declaration also underscored important FAO initiatives, including the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture, the Guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries, and the Agreement on Port State Measures.
Aquatic foods, which provide critical nutrition for over 3.3 billion people globally, are also central to many livelihoods, with the sector reaching a record first-sale value of $472 billion in 2022. FAO’s roadmap addresses sustainability challenges like overfishing, environmental degradation, and climate change, while advocating for enhanced governance, investment, and stronger fisheries management.
Additionally, the Director-General stressed the need for global cooperation to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, urging G20 nations to work closely with FAO in implementing international agreements such as the Agreement on Port State Measures.
On another G20 priority, family farming, Qu underscored its importance in achieving food security. With family farms constituting over 90% of farms worldwide, they are key contributors to rural development and poverty reduction. The FAO-led UN Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028) aims to strengthen these farms through targeted policies and investment in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Qu praised the G20’s commitment to supporting family farmers and called for a dedicated session on family farming in future G20 Agriculture Working Group meetings. He also highlighted the importance of global initiatives like the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty in ensuring food security for all.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation
