The Ministry of Agriculture has developed a plan for adapting the agro-industrial complex and fisheries to climate change

The growth of agricultural production should be achieved simultaneously with ensuring a high level of food and environmental security. This was announced today by the Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev at the key event of the second International Agro-Industrial Forum business brunch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Sberbank “Agriculture and ESG-transformation: challenges and opportunities”, which was held as part of the AIC Week. it was attended by DIRECTOR General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Qu Dongyu, Director of the Global Practice for Agriculture and Food of the World Bank Group Martien van Newkuop, representatives of the industry community, including transnational companies in the agro-industrial complex, as well as Russian regions.

According to the Minister, today the whole world is undergoing global changes. The CORONAVIRUS pandemic has clearly demonstrated how fast change can be. The main reaction from the international agricultural markets was a sharp increase in food demand. Along with this, prices are also rising, a number of countries are faced with hyperinflation and shortages for entire commodity groups. World agriculture is forced to respond to serious challenges related to the provision of food to the world's population, which has increased by two and a half times over the past 60 years. At the same time, the volume of production increased by 4 times. All this together has led to an increased burden on the environment, certain social problems and, as a result, to the need to improve management approaches.

“At the same time, of course, we are faced with the task of maintaining the progressive development of the Russian agro-industrial complex. It is not only about increasing the production of agricultural products and foodstuffs. The following aspects are extremely important - this is the transition to "green" standards and climate change issues, which today have come to the fore of the agenda. Also, the key vectors remain those that we have traditionally been engaged in - the development of breeding and genetics, strengthening human resources, improving the quality of life in rural areas," Dmitry Patrushev emphasized.

The principles of ESG (ecology, social development and management) are becoming one of the main priorities of the global strategic development of the agro-industrial complex. In recent years, the concept of "green", "climate-oriented" agriculture around the world is gaining more and more influence. In RUSSIA, the law on organic products is already being implemented. In addition, from March 1, 2022, the law on products, raw materials and food with improved characteristics will come into force. According to the Minister, there is good potential in the development of these areas in the future.

An important aspect of the "environmental" component of the ESG is the readiness of the agro-industrial complex for climate change. The Ministry of Agriculture is already taking measures to manage soil and water resources, use conservation technologies, and introduce new zoned crop varieties. In addition, the Government approved the national action plan for the first stage of adaptation to climate change. As part of this document, the Ministry has developed a draft sectoral plan for the agro-industrial complex and fisheries. It includes measures to introduce environmentally friendly and efficient methods of adapting production to changing climatic conditions. The work will be built taking into account the specifics of the wide geography of Russia. As Dmitry Patrushev noted, it is planned to approve the plan before the end of this year.

The Minister also reminded that next year the implementation of a new state program for the effective involvement of agricultural land in the circulation and the development of the reclamation complex will begin. Its activities will contribute, among other things, to rational land use.

Another serious issue in the context of "greening" is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the process of agricultural production. In crop production, we are talking about the development of technologies aimed at increasing the carbon stocks in the soil. In the coming years, we will have to create and implement our own methods for regulating anthropogenic emissions. Now the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, is implementing a pilot project to create agricultural carbon landfills. They will be used to study the impact of modern cropping technologies on carbon sequestration. In the future, the results of this work will allow the development of new environmental standards.

Another component of the ESG agenda in the agricultural sector is sustainable social development and support for local communities. The Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing the state program “Integrated Development of Rural Territories” for the second year already, during which time it has affected millions of Russians. About 100,000 families were able to improve their living conditions, primarily through "rural mortgages". In addition, the projects for the integrated development of territories in 2020-2021 will create almost 70,000 jobs in the future.

At the end of the event, all participants noted the importance of adapting the Russian agro-industrial complex to the principles of ESG, and also expressed confidence that the intended goal could be achieved through the joint efforts of the state and business.

Press Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia