Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhly led Saudi Arabia's delegation to the International Forum on Food and Agriculture, currently ongoing in Berlin to discuss the issue of water and agriculture in agricultural production in light of world increasing demand for food. Al-Fadhly also took part in the world's 20 largest industrial and emerging nations (G20) ministers gathering in Berlin on Sunday who called for greater efficiency in water usage and a reduction in the use of controversial antibiotics in agriculture. They also discussed a number of issues pertaining to the UN objectives of sustainable development, food security, climate change, best use and management of water and cooperation among the group's member states to guarantee sustainability of water. Addressing the meeting, Al-Fadhly confirmed Saudi Arabia's great interest in the security of food and water through its future vision 2030 and national transformation program 2020 and its commitment to adopt a package of initiatives and programs to guarantee achieving this goal. He cast light on the initiatives and programs his ministry is embarked to implement to guarantee water and food security, top of which is its initiative on the restructuring and governance of food security institutions, developing of programs destined to curb depletion of food, establishing a strategic reserve depending on early warning and market date, forging an executive strategy and plan for Saudi agricultural investments, enhancing sustainable agricultural development, increasing the agricultural arable land in addition to activating the initiatives of upgrading the water services and supplies, augmenting the usage efficiency and sustainable management for shallow water resources and enhancing the usage of renewable water resources. He said that his ministry has managed to adopt national initiatives to link junior agricultural products with local markets through establishing marketing services centers, improving agricultural cooperative associations, developing agricultural product markets management, implementing other initiatives to reduce and adapt with the phenomenon of climate change, environmental sustainability and increase the green arable lands in the Kingdom, combating desertification and preserving the bio-diversity. The minister drew the attention to the Kingdom's efforts and keenness on its support for all practices and activities aiming at achieving food and water security regionally and internationally, yet confirming its belief in the importance of this matter as well as contributing to it with every might and seriousness.
