ࡱ> FHE RJ8bjbj8:$%%%%%9998q }$9 dffffff$_69%%%PPPF%%dPdPP0}q9@P0 ,".0%0 PP  : Statement by Mr. Hirotaka Akamatsu, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan at the Seventh Session of the ϲʹ Ministerial Conference, Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Summary Through generations of paddy farming, Japanese people have gained wisdom on topics such as natural cycles and sustainability. Nowadays, such wisdom has become keywords in addressing global-scale agendas in areas such as food, environment and trade. The number of undernourished people in the world has reached a critical level of one billion. We should determinedly tackle this global food crisis. In order to overcome this issue, it is essential to increase agricultural productivity in each country from a medium- to long-term perspective. Japan is working on introducing new agricultural policies to revitalize agriculture in our country. These policies will strengthen agricultural productivity and eventually contribute to stabilizing global food situations. The recent food crisis has reminded us that the maintenance of different agriculture systems which are suitable to specific regions, i.e. the coexistence of various types of agriculture, is indispensible. Through the Doha Development Agenda agriculture negotiations, disciplines on agricultural trade are to be developed which can facilitate the mutual development of agriculture in each country, while accommodating the sensitivities of each country. Japan is determined to contribute constructively toward the successful conclusion of the Doha Round Negotiations in 2010. Dear Excellencies, It is a great pleasure for me to address this conference of the ϲʹ as one of the delegates of the Government of Japan. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Government of Switzerland; Minister Andres Velasco, the chairperson of the conference; Mr. Pascal Lamy, ϲʹ Director-General; and all those involved in the preparation of the Seventh Session of the Ministerial Conference of the ϲʹ. Food and Agriculture in Japan A few months ago, Japan experienced a historical change of government. Since then, I have been working to address the revitalization of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Japan as the Minister responsible for these sectors. Food and agriculture comprise the basis of the life, culture and tradition of the Japanese people. Located in an Asian monsoon climate which is characterized by high temperatures and high humidity, Japan has practiced sustainable paddy farming, benefiting from abundant sunlight and water, with plentiful harvests since ancient times. Under these circumstances, Japanese people have learned through our daily lives and experiences the necessity of harmonizing delicate natural conditions, the precious gifts of Mother Earth, and the delights of working cooperatively in a community. Agriculture has been our livelihood and played a central role in the interaction between nature and human society. In Japan, more than 120 million people live in a relatively small country dominated by mountainous and hilly regions. Moreover, we have often suffered from typhoons and other natural disasters. Therefore, in our long history, we have often been under the threats of famine and food shortages. Under these circumstances, Japanese people have naturally acquired an affinity and sense of awe toward nature, and found special values and meanings in food and agriculture. That is to say, Japanese people have acquired wisdom on current topics such as natural cycles and sustainability through paddy farming. I believe that this wisdom which we have cultivated through the ages has become valuable in addressing global-scale agendas in areas such as food, environment and trade in the twenty-first century, an era of growing confusion. With all of this in mind, let me move on to the issues we face today, including the global food problem and trade in agricultural products, which are closely interrelated. Global food situation The number of undernourished people in the world continues to rise and currently has reached one billion while world food prices remain at high levels and the global economy has not yet recovered from the severe downturn triggered by the financial crisis. In fact, according to the FAO, at a terrifying pace of every six minutes, one child dies of hunger or related diseases somewhere in the world. We have the Millennium Development Goals aiming to reduce by half the population who suffer from hunger by 2015. Nevertheless, the reality is heading the other way. I feel deep concern for such situations. The fundamental elements necessary for food production are being threatened by various factors such as the continued population explosion, climate change, natural disasters, the exhaustion of forest and water resources, and soil deterioration. New structural elements behind the current food crisis include changing dietary habits in many countries and increasing demands for agricultural products for biofuels. How should we determinedly address these complicated global issues which have been caused by various factors including agriculture, the population, the natural environment, and energy, among others? Our responsibilities I strongly believe that, in order to overcome the global food crisis, it is not sufficient to provide emergency or short-term measures such as temporary food aid programs for developing countries. Rather, from a medium- to long-term perspective, it is essential to increase agricultural production and productivity in each country. 0 Japan will make every effort to assist developing countries in increasing food production and enhancing their agricultural productivity. In addition, Japan will strongly promote new foreign agricultural investment programs under cooperation between the public and private sectors. I believe that these actions coincide with the spirit of the Doha Development Agenda which emphasizes the development of developing countries. Japan is the worlds largest net food-importing country and has contributed greatly to the development of the global economy through trade. However, Japans food self-sufficiency ratio has been decreasing and hovering around the lowest level among major developed countries. Under the circumstances in which the global food supply and demand has been tightening, it is our urgent task to create a more solid and sustainable domestic agricultural production system by utilizing every possible resource. Currently I am working on introducing new agricultural policies to revitalize agriculture in our country. The purposes of these policies are to improve the environment so that all motivated farmers can make a living in agriculture with their creative ideas, to ensure the multi-functionality of agriculture, and to revitalize rural communities. I am sure that the new policies will strengthen agricultural production and productivity in Japan which will contribute to stabilizing the global food situations. Coexistence of various types of agriculture and the Doha Round The food crisis problem has reminded us that the maintenance of different agriculture systems which are suitable to specific regions, i.e. the coexistence of various types of agriculture, is indispensable for ensuring global food security. Given the finite nature of the earths natural resources, the primary advantages of agriculture which exercises a cyclical use of resources should be further utilized hereafter for the future of human beings. Sustainable agriculture should be developed properly even under a progressing market economy and globalization. In the Doha Development Agenda agriculture negotiations, Japan has put forward its views under the guiding principle of the coexistence of various types of agriculture from its standpoint as a food-importing country. In addition to the disciplines for open trade, we sincerely hope that agricultural trade rules are to be developed in such a way as to ensure food security and the multi-functionality of agriculture and to facilitate the mutual development of agriculture in each country under different conditions, while accommodating the sensitivities of each country. These sorts of ideas are embodied in the G10 Ministerial Press Statement which was issued just recently by a group of food-importing Members, and Japan of course heartily subscribes to it. Taking this opportunity, I wish to refer to the discipline on fisheries subsidies which is also an important issue. Japan is of the view that the subsidies which do not contribute to overcapacity or overfishing need not be prohibited, and that the discipline should reinforce appropriate fisheries management based on scientific evidence from each Member and regional fisheries management organizations. In these senses, we need to deepen our discussion at future opportunities so that the discipline can become a properly balanced one. Japan, as one of the countries which has benefited the most from free trade, is determined to contribute constructively toward the conclusion of the Doha Round Negotiations in 2010. Closing I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my resolute determination to continue to tackle various difficult problems on a global scale in concert with the participants in this conference, in order to realize and maintain decent livelihoods, prosperity, dignity and h_f|  AV$$,,.8D8E8I8J8󥡥h(Bh(BhHCJOJQJUh}Jlh(BhTM!CJOJQJ%h}Jlh(BB*CJKHOJQJphh}Jlh(B5CJOJQJh}Jlh(BCJOJQJ\h}Jlh(BCJOJQJ%_ Z  & F$G$H$Ifgd(B & F$G$H$IfYD2gd(B$IfXD2YD2gd(Bgd(B$a$gd(B    stgd(Bhkd$$Ifc!P% t0644 layt(Bef|wx@AV ""$$$%%''**$a$gd(Bgd(B*.,/,,,, 8!8D8E8F8G8H8I8J8$a$ dG$gd(Bgd(B 7$8$H$gd(Bappiness for all human beings. Thank you for your kind attention. 61h2P:p(B. 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