The instruments of international cooperation with other countries range from high-level working groups, technical discussions at working level, bilateral cooperation projects and the EU's twinning programme for authorities to involvement in international organisations.
Maintaining international relations also includes organising and participating in the meetings of the G20 agriculture ministers, bilateral exchanges of scientists and international conferences, in particular the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), and. Within the Federal Government, the BMEL is the lead agency for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Since 2002, the BMEL has co-funded food security projects with the FAO under the Bilateral Trust Fund. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is also well positioned internationally: BMEL agricultural advisers work at German embassies around the world. Staff also work in German representations to the FAO, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the European Union (EU). In addition, the ministry holds regular consultations with important partner countries and contributes its positions to international organisations.
On 1 January 2023, Japan took over the Presidency of the G7 from Germany. Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir spoke with Minister Nonaka, his Japanese counterpart, about the transfer in the margins of the OECD Agriculture Ministers’ Conference in Paris.
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) maintains good bilateral relations with numerous countries. This takes place at various levels and is based on the idea of dialogue in partnership.
Within the framework of the Twinning programme, experts from Federal Government and Länder authorities are posted to partner countries, usually for a period of up to two years, to carry out projects in collaboration with local experts. Typical projects include setting up government institutions or preparing new legislation.
Price fluctuations and price spikes on global commodity markets have increasingly come to the forefront of public attention since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Food supply is massively at risk at times of high uncertainty due to low supply and high demand as well the resulting high prices, especially in countries of the Global South that are dependent on imports. In Germany and the EU, food prices have also significantly increased as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.
Food from Germany is an export hit: one third of the total output of German agriculture goes into exports, the food industry generates one third of its total revenue in export activities. With its promotion programme, the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture intends to open up foreign markets with great purchasing power for German products, thus strengthening companies' competitiveness.
The BMEL operates a programme to support the German agri-food sector - especially small and medium-sized enterprises - in its endeavours to open up new and foster existing markets abroad. The programme is constantly being refined and adapted to current requirements.
For Germany, one of the biggest exporters of chocolate products worldwide, cocoa as an agricultural commodity is of great economic importance. Almost ten percent of the cocoa produced worldwide is processed in Germany alone. It is thus useful to maintain the share of sustainably produced cocoa in the value-adding chain and to safeguard its availability and quality in the long term.
