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Africa can become one of the world’s food baskets as a result of technology, cheap trade tariffs, and farmer incentives, these were some of the topics covered during panel discussions at the BRICS Business Forum.
The promotion of trade and investment in agriculture among the BRICS nations as well as sustainable development will not only increase food security but using technology to modernise and streamline the agricultural sector might lower costs, contribute to global carbon reduction efforts, and possibly turn Africa into the world’s food basket.
Chairman and Global CEO of UPL and BRICS Business Council member of India, Jai Shroff spoke about how climate change impacted the sector the most and he said if BRICS could take the lead to reward farmers for sustainable behaviour, there would be massive change in the efforts to decarbonise the world”.
Shroff added that beyond the carbon credit, farmers should be rewarded in either money or better shelf space in the stores.
Vice President of BRF, Brazil’s largest producer of animal protein and largest exporter of poultry, Bruno Ferla said “the only way to meet the needs of the population and produce more food was through technology”.
Ferla said technology would better guide how to use limited water resources, soil, what better seeds to use and how to better manage livestock.
He called on BRICS nations and friends of BRICS to take a dominant role in understanding some of the world policies in agriculture, and the motive and impact behind those policies.
“If we do not do this, Africa as the food basket of the world will never happen. Everyone wants a seat at the table but what’s the point if there’s no food on the table. We have to be bright enough to balance all of that and give people quality food at a good price,” Ferla said.
Agriculture Working Group and Head of Competence Centre, PhosAgro in Russia, Vladimir Nosov said several approaches to address the challenges were needed in the agriculture sector. These included decisions on smart products, smart fertilizers and next generation products such as bio-fertilisers and eco efficient products and fertilisers.
Chairman of China’s largest food processor, manufacturer and trader, the COFCO Group Jun Lyu said they were looking forward to sharing some best practices with the rest of the nations during their sessions this week.
Lyu said China actually had only 9% of arable land and 6% of fresh water, yet it was providing food for a large part of the world.
He said the use of a whole series of different strategies and smart ways to manage the challenges of agriculture assisted the country in their production.
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