The 5th African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Agriculture Ministerial Conference took place at the FAO’s premises. The biennial conference takes place to monitor the progress achieved between summits and to advance cooperation between the African Union and the European Union.
The conference programme offered four high-level thematic sessions on the topics of investment, climate, research & regional trade. The plenary session was co-chaired by EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski and the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture Josefa Sacko. In addition, five side events were provided for further engagement on key topics.
- agricultural trade | international cooperation | African Union
- Friday 30 June 2023, 09:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
- Rome, Italy
- Live streaming available
Media
5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference – High level thematic session 
Commissioner Wojciechowski at the 5th AU - EU Agricultural Ministerial Conference 
5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference – High level thematic session 
5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference – High level thematic session 
5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference – High level thematic session 
5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference – High level thematic session 
5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference – High level thematic session 
Plenary session, 5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference 
Plenary session, 5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference 
Plenary session, 5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference 
Plenary session, 5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference 
Plenary session, 5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference 
Plenary session, 5th AU - EU Agriculture Ministerial Conference
Files
- Downloadfrançais
High level thematic sessions
- Downloadfrançais
- Downloadfrançais
- Downloadfrançais
- Downloadfrançais
Side events
- Downloadfrançais
Practical information
- When
- Friday 30 June 2023, 09:00 - 18:00 (CEST)
- Where
- FAO HeadquartersViale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
- Who should attend
- African and European Ministers of Agriculture and Commissioners, EU and AU Ambassadors in Rome, agri-food business and farming organisations, as well as international financial institutions and Rome based UN agencies (FAO, IFAD).
- Languages
- English, French, Portuguese, Arabic
- Organisers
- Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development | Directorate-General for International Partnerships | African Union Commission | African Union
- Social media links
Report
Around 400 participants joined the event in person, while over 800 people followed the plenary session online. A total of 55 country delegations attended, with 27 represented at ministerial or vice-ministerial level.
The plenary session included opening speeches by two Commissioners, as well as talks from national ministers and FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu. Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski emphasized in his speech the tangible benefits that the Africa-Europe Rural Transformation action agenda has already brought to farmers and food supply chains in Africa.
Keynote speeches followed, discussing collective efforts to tackle global food security challenges. The session ended with a report on the morning's high-level thematic sessions. Ministers have stressed the importance of increased investment in agri-food systems and the need for improved data to enhance knowledge. They have highlighted the crucial roles of women and young people in farming and agreed on the significance of research and innovation for sustainable transformation. Participants have firmly committed to ongoing discussions among all parties involved.
The conference concluded with the announcement of the establishment of an EU-AU Joint Task Force on Fertilisers. This task force aims to address challenges related to fertilizer accessibility and affordability and propose solutions.