Opening Address at World Grain Forum.Part 2
June 6, 2009
St Petersburg
Выступление на заседании Всемирного зернового форума.
6 июня 2009 года
Санкт-Петербург
I would like to outline our position on some significant topics to be addressed at the Forum. One particularly important issue is the increase in grain prices due to ethanol production, although at this point there are quite different views on this subject. We have certainly discussed this repeatedly with our colleagues. Nevertheless, we favour the production of other biofuels, from inedible sources. These sources are now available, and we think that the international community needs to develop a balanced attitude to these problems by finding a compromise between energy consumption and food security. The development of bio-energy should not lead to a growing shortage of grain for food. This problem is difficult but solvable, especially given the latest research in the field of biofuels.
There is another question. In the various parts of the global grain supply chain production, storage, processing, transport a blockage can create problems. We know that the logistical infrastructure, the sea ports or grain elevators are not always sufficient for storing the size of the harvest produced or to ensure its timely delivery to consumers.
I would note here that a number of multinational food companies have introduced new technologies which, unfortunately, are in breach of environmental safety requirements. It is also necessary to improve the global system of monitoring agroclimatic changes, soil erosion and desertification. In particular, we must do so using the opportunities that modern space facilities provide us with today.
Another question is the lack of national and supranational regulatory regimes and agricultural support. Endless discussions on this topic are taking place at various forums. All seem to agree that excessive protectionism harms sustainable development, including the agricultural sector development, but protectionism flourishes nonetheless and results in speculation in the grain market.
I think we need to improve the system of mutual information and early warning with regards to markets in order to minimize the pricing speculation and create more normal working conditions. The modernisation and development of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), a universal platform that unites producers and consumers of foodstuffs, must remain an unconditional priority. Russia became a full member of this organisation in 2006 and intends to actively develop its cooperation with the FAO.
Finally, our cooperation at the regional level plays an important role. Given the length of our borders and the size of our country, the Asia-Pacific region remains crucially important for us. By diversifying the destinations of Russian exports we are creating further incentives for our partners, as well as incentives for our own development, especially in the Far East and Eastern Siberia. And this is of course a very important and topical task for Russia.
In addition we have scheduled a discussion on cooperation in the Black Sea basin the Russian first deputy prime minister [Viktor Zubkov] just talked about this and we hope to discuss the prospects of creating a so-called regional grain pool that could work on coordinating and exchanging information on all issues.
By way of conclusion to my opening address I would note the crucial significance of research into crop production. It is therefore absolutely no coincidence that this Forum is taking place in St Petersburg, where there is a research centre of global significance, the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry housing a unique collection of over 200,000 samples of agricultural crops.
The search for innovation, use of modern agricultural technologies, achievements of plant breeding and seed production are the preconditions for the dynamic development of grain production. Of course we invite all those present to engage in joint research and in this sense there is yet one more sphere of cooperation, namely scientific and technological cooperation.
Dear friends, let me express my hope for the successful promotion of the ideas that will be discussed today and for a successful forum. I wish you success and prosperity. We face a very ambitious and difficult task.
Thank you.
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Д.Медведев.Выступление на заседании.06.06.09.Part 1by niknikolay253 views
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