June 8, 2016

G20 Agriculture Ministers commit to fight antibiotics resistance 

The European Commission welcomed the commitment by the G20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting to support sustainable agriculture for ensuring global food security and to fight antimicrobial resistance, including the phasing out of antibiotics as growth promoters in animals.

The G20 Agriculture Ministers, who met in in Xi'an, China, on June 3, said in a communique that they will support the implementation of the WHO's global action plan on antimicrobial resistance.

In Brussels, Belgium, Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis welcomed the meeting's outcome, saying: "It is encouraging to see progress in cooperation on fighting AMR (antimicrobial resistance) on international level given the global nature of the challenge. European Union will continue contributing to broader collective actions, including in promoting international awareness, methodologies, and surveillance systems, where the EU can act as a global leader."

EU Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Phil Hogan, who represented the EU at the meeting also welcomed "the G20 conclusions as a sign of our common commitment to tackle the global challenges of food security, sustainable agriculture, innovation and ICT use in farming."

According to the ministers' communique, information and communications technology has the potential to reach farmers with timely and accessible content on markets, sustainable and efficient farming practices and new technologies.