Global Forum for Food and Agriculture

Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference

The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) is the key international conference that focuses on questions concerning the future of the global food and agricultural industry. It provides a platform for experts, policy-makers, researchers, business representatives and civil society stakeholders to come together to devise solutions for ensuring food security in the future. The political highlight of the GFFA is the world’s largest informal conference of agriculture ministers.

Under the chairmanship of Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, agriculture ministers from approximately 70 states and representatives of 14 International Organisations agreed at the 17th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference to jointly drive forward sustainable bioeconomy. They undertake to strengthen the contribution of sustainable bioeconomy to global food security, conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change.

Family photo of the 17th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference Family photo of the 17th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference
Family photo of the 17th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Conference © BMEL/Photothek

The agriculture ministers agreed in their final communiqué to join international partners in pooling knowledge and coordinating approaches through a global bioeconomy partnership at the FAO. To the final communiqué.

The 2025 GFFA focused on the topic "Farming a Sustainable Bioeconomy". Our global economic system is facing great challenges as it is largely dependent on non-renewable, fossil resources. It uses up finite resources, exacerbates the climate crisis and thus has a drastic impact on global food security. A sustainable, circular bioeconomy can play a key role in the further development towards a sustainable and resilient resource base.

The 17th GFFA was opened by Claudia Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture. As a platform for multilateral exchange, the GFFA is a globally unique event hosted by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).

In her opening address, Claudia Müller said: "In times of increasing conflict which see the world at risk of splitting into camps, we want to use the GFFA to promote dialogue and collaboration. We are gathering in Berlin because we know that the most pressing challenges of our time – the climate crisis, species extinction, conflicts and wars – can only be solved together."

A bio-based economy uses raw materials from agriculture, forestry and aquaculture, as well as organic waste, micro-organisms and insects. The transition towards an increased use of renewable resources therefore not only offers manifold prospects for development and for generating income but can also contribute to achieving 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. We intend to use the GFFA as a platform to promote the exchange on sustainable bioeconomy and thus contribute to strengthening food security, combatting the deepening climate crisis, boosting innovation, and providing a fair framework for a sustainable bioeconomy.

Four central bioeconomy topics will be discussed during the 2025 GFFA

  1. Producing biomass sustainably – Solving conflicts of interest
  2. Using biomass sustainably – Ensuring global food security
  3. Strengthening innovation – Promoting communication
  4. Creating a fair framework – Harnessing change

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Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2025

The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2025 came to a successful close. The political highlight was the 17th Berliner Conference of Ministers of Agriculture. 63 Ministers from all around the world and 14 high-level representatives of International Organisations took part.

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Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2024

Chaired by Federal Minister Cem Özdemir, the agriculture ministers from over 60 states met at the 16th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference and undertook to continue the necessary transformation towards sustainable and consequently resilient agriculture and food systems. In their final communiqué, they underlined that this was the only way to make the right to adequate food a reality for everyone across the globe.

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