International relations

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.

Overview of topics

G7 presidency - handover to Japan

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.

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Projects + programmes

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.

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Twinning

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.

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Recommendations

Agricultural exports (topic:trade-and-export)

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.

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Cooperation with the countries of the Middle East (topic:international-relations)

The main countries we cooperate with in the Middle East are Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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Main features of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its implementation in Germany (topic:eu-agricultural-policy)

From 2023, the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will make European agriculture greener and more sustainable and provide a reliable and stable framework for the period up to 2027.

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