Minister Tereza Cristina (Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) said this Wednesday (17) that the main challenge of the bloc formed by Brazil, India, China, Russia and South Africa (Brics) is to resolve trends towards protectionism, isolationism and unilateralism . “(The challenges) require, as before, collective responses. They demand that we stick to the same idea: simple, but powerful, of joining forces”, he defended during a welcome to representatives of BRICS delegations who are in Brasília for the Meeting of Vice Ministers of Agriculture of the economic bloc.
The meeting is preparatory to the 9th Meeting of Brics Agriculture Ministers, which will be held in Bonito (MS), in September. In Brasília, representatives of the delegation visited the headquarters of Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) and visited the laboratories that test new varieties of sugarcane.sugar and seed and seedling banks.
For the minister, it is an opportunity to showcase the innovations produced by the institution that contributes to the effort to adapt tropical agriculture to climate change. Tereza Cristina also highlighted that “Brazil is ready and willing to contribute to ensuring global food security, incorporating, at the center of its strategy, the principles of sustainable development”.
In the afternoon, the group meets in the Mapa auditorium to discuss issues linked to the development of agriculture in member countries. Topics such as promoting science, technology and innovation; digital economy; Increased contacts between the productive sector and projects developed by the New Brics Development Bank (NDB) are planned. The meeting will be led by ambassador Orlando Ribeiro, secretary of Commerce and International Relations at the ministry. This Thursday (18), discussions continue and end with bilateral meetings between member countries.
Representatives
The head of the Chinese delegation is the director of the country's Veterinary Service, LI Jinxiang; from India, Secretary Shri Sanjay Agarwal; from Africa, ambassador JN Mashimbye; and from Russia, deputy director Ilia Geraschenko. The Brazilian company is headed by Mapa's Secretary of Commerce and International Relations, Orlando Ribeiro.
Mercosur
At the end of the meeting, Tereza Cristina commented on the Mercosur Summit, which began this Wednesday in Argentina. At the meeting, Argentine president Maurício Macri will hand over the position of president pro tempore of Mercosur to Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro. “We have several themes, the agreement with the European Union, which needs to continue and also discuss how this will happen in the coming (years), including approval by parliaments”.
She also expressed optimism and stated that “things will move forward now. We have a great atmosphere of discussion there. In agriculture, there are some problems among us that affect us and we have to work on a new way to gain new markets.” Brazil will be at the head of the group for the next six months and will host the next Mercosur meeting, which will be held at the end of the year in Bento Gonçalves (RS).
