 Guten Tag, ich darf Sie ganz... CCCC, Patricia Espinosa, Janusz Wojcikowski, Kommissionär der Europäischen Kommission for Agriculture and Rural Development, und willkommen zu all of you, as well who are with us today virtually two things in advance. This press conference is being translated into English and German. You can choose the language you would like to listen to via Zoom, and we will listen to our speakers today in the order that I just mentioned, and then we'll have time for questions. Minister, thank you Mr. Powell, welcome Mr. Jü, welcome Mrs. Espinosa, and welcome Mr. Wojcikowski, ladies and gentlemen who are joining us online. Thank you, thank you for your interest in this press conference. The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture is indeed a unique forum. It has become more clearly than ever before this year, especially in times of global pandemics. It is important that we stay in touch. Many events were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is key that we don't lose sight of each other. The world came together for this forum to help each other. Food security was one topic. We also addressed questions of food security in times of pandemics and climate change. We all do that at the national level with national measures, but we also must close ranks internationally. That is why I am all the more delighted that many of my colleagues followed our invitation. We actually reached a record number of more than 80 agricultural ministers from all over the world. 90 countries were represented, 13 international bodies at the highest level joined us. There clearly shows this is a very topical issue, the topic of this year's GFFA, which was how to feed the world in times of pandemics and climate change. It clearly shows one thing, it is of utmost importance that we find solutions because the Covid-19 pandemic has clearly showed to us that all of our health is quite vulnerable and also that resilient food systems and strong supply chains are key. Let me just mention one quite drastic example to illustrate this. In 40 countries, the reality is as follows, these countries do not have sufficient agricultural land to even feed their own population, their own people and they are forced to import products. And Covid-19 is of course adding to this struggle against hunger. Let me give you some specific figures that also show how severe the situation is. According to international estimates, the number of people suffering from hunger could grow by another 130 million people or has already risen to that. So on top of these 690 million people who already didn't have enough food on their plates before the pandemic, so we discussed solutions because this is a dramatic issue and indescribable suffering. We can't just sit idly by, we can't wait for another pandemic to come around No, we talked about how we can actively fight the impacts of the pandemic, how we can prepare better for the future. We also need to assess the root causes of such pandemics. It is a clear signal of strong unity that we agreed on a common communique together. This communique is probably available to you and will be made available to you. And it is rich in its contents, the negotiations were very long and of course the wording was discussed. Let me just mention three key aspects that I consider relevant. First of all, a clear demand. We need open markets, we need access to food and we need stable supply chains. Locally and internationally. Borders were closed and travel restrictions were issued, especially in Africa and Asia. Many people lost their jobs due to that and of course also their income. This exacerbates hunger. Funktioning supply chains are a prerequisite for food on the plates of the people and also for stable and affordable prices. Just take a look at a family. Maybe small children, babies, adolescents, we all are aware nutrition and food and good as well as balanced and appropriate nutrition is key in this stage of their life for their further development. If that is not guaranteed, then well the situation may easily turn quite dramatic. So yes, supply chains on the local level are key. We often don't have the necessary infrastructure in terms of transport and storage. So half of the foodstuffs is lost along the production chain in many regions of the world and on the other hand, we are wasting a lot of food. The impact is dramatic. Some people are starving and others are throwing away food. A second aspect. In terms of agriculture, we need to reconcile climate change stewardship and food security. We need to enable farmers to act. We need to feel that in all of our statements. That is why it is a pleasure and honour that the Secretary General of the United Nations spoke to us, Mr. Guterres. All the young farmers who joined us, they issued their own statement, a common statement of international young farmers and handed us to us. We need sustainable agriculture as a key to feeding the world and to fight climate change, especially because agriculture is often a victim of climate change but can also help to mitigating climate change. Of course this means responsibility. Agriculture needs to be enabled to face up to climate change, to withstand it. Agriculture needs to be able to live up to the expectations and requirements that are easily put out there. On its own, agriculture will not be able to fight climate change. How do we make this a success? We address this as well. We need climate resilient and locally adapted crops. We need to use and develop them. We also need to make sure that we do not cut down forests any longer. A forestation is important and climate adaptant forestry. We need to cut down on fertilisers and crop protection agents. We need to use technology. We need to seize the opportunity of soil to bind carbon. Strengthen their role as a carbon sink. Now let me come to the last aspect. One health. The one health approach needs to be strengthened to reduce the risk of zoonoses. One health. What does that imply? It implies that we don't distinguish between health protection in terms of animals, humans or the environment. We need a comprehensive approach. Zoonoses have been mentioned. Covid-19 is not the first virus that was transmitted from animals to humans. 70% of all pathogens of infectious diseases over the last 30 years in humans have been of animal origin. Animal health is therefore critical for animals themselves but also for human health and humans. In Covid-19 we currently believe that this close contact between wildlife and humans has led to the transmission. There are other examples of zoonoses, rabies or Ebola. These diseases cost many millions, thousands of people their lives. Animal health is a prerequisite for human health. In order to prevent future pandemics and to analyze root causes, we want to have functioning early warning systems to implement them and also to have better health management for wildlife. That's what we agreed upon. So, let me conclude by saying where we are heading. This question will probably come from you as the journalists. The communique will also be one of our contributions to the UN Food Systems Summit this year. In September 2021. I handed it over to the Special Envoy to the UN Food Systems Summit, Dr. Agnes Kali-Bata, as well as the Secretary General of OIE, Dr. Monique Élois, as well as the Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, Patricia Espinosa. Thank you. Thank you, Minister. Dr. G, you have the floor. First of all, I would like to congratulate to my friend, the junior minister, the clock man. You know, you are doing right things at the right time. You know, when you started the initiative that the collaboration between the UN and the Germany Minister of Agriculture and Food, we designed this year's theme and it's come to the three categories you present. I think that time it was September or October, so it's still is not like now. So since early this year, I participated in the One House approach summit, one planning summit, and now come my third, it's G-FAFA. So G-FAFA, you know, it's a long history impact kickoff meeting every year of the new year. So I really sincerely congratulate you on your efforts. Especially during this pandemic, people, if you are accountable, responsible, you needed to do something and for the people, for the global. That's, I think, the FAO always stand in line with you, with Germany government. Last time I saluted to the Chancellor Merkel also for her leadership and together with President Macron and FAO and also WHO. Und so far, we, myself put a lot of efforts on the One House approach. We started global leadership on the AMR and One House. That was already had the first meeting in early November last year. So we will have more and high level meetings to get the One House approach. It should be understandable and build more consensus this planet. Second, as F.A.O., we have to specify how to transform agro-food systems. You know, during the pandemic, luckily, we have prevent the food crisis so far due to the international agro-trade is functioning quite well. Even if we face the big challenge. And also the some lot of disruption of the trade and the supply chance and the transportation and even labor forces in Europe and some other parts of the world also. But I'm happy to see that due to all the efforts of the Minister of Agriculture and Food and the farmers, producers, dealers, at least we didn't see that big disaster for the human being. But at the same time, we saw the fragility of agro-food systems from the environment to the production, to the processing, to the marketing channel, as well as also most variables are affected by severe, you see. That's why we want to build the international consensus to have the variable first. So agro-food transformation should be feed to the different members, because different members have a different agro-food system. And we want to keep the international trade functional, effective first, and then we encourage local producers more. And then, of course, we encourage to produce more and better, and also with less impact, less input and others. The solution, if we are encouraging, is to have more innovation. That's also last time I enjoyed the meeting with Bayer Economy Summit with Minister Julian, because I think also Germany government also one of the key players on that area. We need the more high technology for agricultural seeds, chemicals, fertilizers, vaccines, annual vaccines and other inputs. So the solution for agro-food transformation to build also one health approach to prevent another pandemic. We need innovation, innovation policy, innovation on the technology, innovation on the business model. That's why I salute also organize of the SG55 to put this on the stage. And in combined with one approach, one health approach as a holistic design. And the last and not least, FAO, we're willing to encourage all the members to have a more political engagement, because agricultural and food is fundamental, and the food is the basic human rights. As the US Secretary General just mentioned this afternoon, I always said that also publicly, without food, without the basic rights as a human being, because we are now in the modern civilization. We should have all the tools to end the hangar, unless we have a strong political willingness. And the more investment in agriculture in the rural areas, I said also we need also the international cooperation, because the development nation can offer more, and also the development nation can learn more. And also at the same time we can also south-south cooperation, developing countries, learning from different countries. So that's why the FAO we encourage triangle cooperation. I expect all the members, especially from Germany government, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Economy and others, have strength in collaboration through FAO. That's why I come to the handy-handy initiative, because we want to bring the matchmaking relationship between FAO and the members, from the daughter members to the recipient members. And also, as you pointed out also, egg hatchery is suffering from the industrial revolution during the past 200 years. And also, if we manage it very well properly, egg hatchery will be buffer for the society and the environment improvement. And the last, not the least, I think, finally, egg hatchery systems will become play the role in the contributor. So from the suffering to the buffer, and finally will be the last contributor. And to keep the inclusive sustainable green development. And that is real and go, and we can end the hunger, left no one behind. And also we can offer them high nutritional food, das. For the people who wish to. And egg hatchery food transformation is not a one-day-one-year job. We need the persistent and close cooperation globally, holistically, and also collectively. I thank you of the chance again for the FAO to cooperation. And we committed to stress and cooperation with you and with other partners, multi-led partners, bi-led partners, and the civil societies. So I want to be at the FAO to be accountable and innovative organization, dynamic for the better world. Over to you. Thank you. Thank you very much, Director General. Und with this, I would like to hand over to Ms. Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC. Thank you. Thank you very much, Minister Klöckner. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for organizing this very important event. It has been really amazing to see the dedication of all the ministers. I'm very, very happy to receive the communicate and to know the dedication by all your colleagues, the agriculture ministers from all around the world that we're meeting today virtually to act on hunger, on climate change, on food production, forestry, and so many other vital issues. I would like to just make a few comments about why all of this is so important in 2021. Last week, the European Union's Climate Change Service reported that 2020 tied 2016 as the world's warmest year on record. And the UNEP emissions gap report tells us that based on current pledges under the Paris Agreement, the world is headed for a three-degree rise in temperature. This is a far cry from Paris's 1.5-goal. That's why we must work with renewed efforts to complete all outstanding work under the Paris Agreement, implement it as soon as possible, and significantly boost climate ambition under it. So while drastically reducing fossil fuel emissions is crucial to addressing climate change and enabling agricultural activities in the future, there is no debate that the agriculture sector can also contribute to emissions reductions. And it was really hardening to see the commitment by ministers to contribute in this regard. The IPCC notes that roughly a quarter of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from land use, especially from deforestation and agriculture. In order to reduce these emissions without jeopardizing global food supplies, as you have very clearly explained, we must find climate-friendly and economically viable solutions for food production systems around the globe. It's clear that we cannot achieve success on collective climate action and food security unless the collective agriculture sector takes more significant and detailed action. And so this is why I welcome the positive signal that this meeting and this communiqué sends for COP26. Specially the leadership by agriculture ministers regarding the need to take climate action while providing the world's population with adequate and sustainably produced food. It's very reassuring that agriculture is approached comprehensively, including climate action on adaptation and mitigation, and also having at the center the importance of food security and sustainability. We also note the support for the coronavirus joint work on agriculture explicitly mentioned and look forward to working together on this matter towards COP26. I'm also pleased that Red Plus and the reduction of deforestation is included as a very important area in the communiqué. What we have seen from ministers today is exactly the kind of progress and momentum we need to see in 2021 and as we look towards the incredibly important milestone event of COP26 in November. The agenda ahead is significant, but as this communiqué indicates, we are moving in the right direction. And I thank you all for your hard work. Over to you, Minister. Herzlichen Dank. Thank you very much. And now I would like to give the floor to Mr. Commissioner Wojcikowski. Sorry for technical problems. Thank you very much for giving me floor. First of all, I'd like to thank and to congratulate the German Agricultural Minister Julia Kleckner for organizing and hosting this highly successful forum. It has been a pleasure to be part of this debate. I'm pleased to express my full support to the communiqué drafted by the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture. The text of the communiqué covers a broad range of issues that are central in the European Union's international engagement. Today we have made a commitment to concrete action to safeguard global food security in the face of the ongoing COVID pandemic. In that context, we have reaffirmed our commitment to the pressing matter of sustainability and sustainable development goals. We have recommitted ourselves to promoting healthy and sustainable diets, animal welfare and confronting the causes and the effects of climate change with a particular emphasis on the need for adaptation. Innovation, development, cooperation and rules based international trade are some of the important tools for addressing these pressing challenges. We do so in anticipation of the upcoming United Nations Food System Summit. This has demonstrated that the ministers and representatives gathered here, share most of our vision and objectives and our affirmations today reflect the spirit of the European's key policy initiatives such as the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Global and regional organisations are setting ambitious targets such as the sustainable development goals to be achieved by 2030 and the European's Green Deal objectives to become the first carbon neutral continent by 2050. These inspiring aims simply cannot be achieved without the contribution of agriculture and the equation. Much important work reminds to be done in the near future in a spirit of good will and cooperation. I'm therefore already looking forward to attending the next Global Forum. Hopefully live in Berlin next year. Thank you very much. Vielen Dank. Thank you. We would now like to start with our rounds of questions and answers. Please state your name and the organisation you're working for. Mr. Cockerrolls, please. I have the opportunity to ask some questions here, which I will now do in German. She has a Konstantin Cockerrolls. My name is Konstantin Cockerrolls. I work for Top Agrar. One moment, there is an issue with my channel here. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? All right, perfect. One question to Federal Minister Klöckner and Commissioner Wojcikowski. This morning in one of the GFFA panels, the quite restrictive policy in Europe as regards new breeding techniques was criticised, that also has an impact on developing countries. So they are not able to implement these policies. The Director General showed that he's demanded quite an openness to new technologies. And I just wanted to ask whether you can reciprocate that. Thank you very much for your question. Well, I would like to speak on behalf of the ministry and express my personal view. This is, of course, not news. The Social Democrats, for example, our of a different opinion, for example. But if we want to change something and not simply describe problems, we have to turn to new breeding techniques because we want to reduce the use of pesticides. We want to have resilient plans, plans that are resilient to pests and also to emerging pests due to climate change. We want to have resilient plans that are resilient to climate and weather events. We want to ensure that people don't go hungry and we want to be resource friendly. And if we take all into this into account, but simply state what the problem is and state, well, we reject new breeding techniques, this does not contribute to a solution. New breeding techniques such as CRISPR-Cas are not a silver bullet, of course, but rejecting them right from the start and rejecting research on these technologies and deliberating on how to make them accessible and available to those regions suffering from these extreme weather events. This is quite cynical, to be frank, especially in our situation, while we are quite comfortable with our food situation. And this morning we talked about the continent of Africa. On average, because of climate change, has a decrease in yields of on average 17 percent. So my opinion is it is not enough to simply talk about the problems we have to think about how to be able to use different measures to help those people. Commissioner, you have the floor. Commissioner, you are still muted. We cannot hear you. Thank you for your question. Also, there was a problem during the beginning of your question, and I'm not sure that I understood exactly, but generally in the common agricultural policy reform and the green architecture in this reform, we need to take into account from one side our environmental climate challenges and to make our agriculture more friendly for environment from one side from other side. We also should take into account the food security, and this is the reason that we need to use different tools, different instruments in the process of reform of our agriculture. But also taking into account the new breeding technologies innovative technologies like precision agriculture, for example. And from other side, I think that many positive results we will achieve first of all reducing the distance from farm to farm. We also discussed during this forum how important issue is this. It was also one of priorities for the German presidency, which was finished in the end of the year. Orientation to the local market, production for the local market, more connection between the farmers and the local food producers and local market. This is the chance that our common agriculture policy will be more free and before the environment for the climate, reducing, for example, transport costs and more economically friendly for the farmers. I'm sure that this is the best way for the strengthening of our agriculture to make them more competitive. And this is the main instrument. But we should take into account all possible instruments and the commission is open. And finally we are expecting positive results for the environment, for the climate, for the animal welfare, which is also important, very important in our reform and also for the farmers. Thank you. Vielen Dank. Thank you. If there are any further questions, please raise your hand virtually or use the chat function to signal to us that you want to ask a question. Noch kurz. We'll wait for a couple of seconds. I currently don't see any other questions. So let me now thank everyone who has joined us in their interest in joining us for this press conference. We look forward to seeing you face-to-face next year again for the GFFA 2021 here in Berlin. Thank you and goodbye. Thank you very much. Bye-bye. Innovation.