Food Security is Focus as Vilsack Travels to G7, Poland

The G7 Agriculture Ministers met in Stuttgart, Germany, May 13-14, against the backdrop of Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine and the resulting impacts on agriculture and food security worldwide.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke about the importance of the G7 and other like-minded nations continuing to band together to keep trade flowing and to help ensure that food get to those who need it most.

“We need to remove the hurdles facing our farmers, agribusiness, and the entire supply chain so they can do their part to fight back against the Russian invasion by helping fill the gap in food production,” Vilsack said.

“The Russian invasion is a catalyst for the G7 nations to further integrate our markets and invest in new, innovative ways to sustainably increase our productivity,” he noted. “As we rally to address global food needs now, we also need to build more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems that can absorb future shocks, such as pandemics, conflict, severe weather, and climate change. 

G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Communiqué: Pathways Towards Sustainable Food Systems in Times of Crises

Following the G7 ministerial, Vilsack traveled to Poland, where he was hosted by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Henryk Kowalczyk. They were joined by Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi and European Union Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.

This was an opportunity see and hear, firsthand, about the food security effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to engage on trade, innovation, climate, and sustainability issues that support stronger transatlantic cooperation during times of global challenges.