The Nordic ministers for food, agriculture and fisheries will meet in Trondheim on 28 June to discuss the outcome of Rio+20. There will be particular focus on food supply and green growth, but the ministers will also discuss opportunities for greater involvement of the green sector in social and health measures in the Nordic countries.
Nine Nordic ministers will meet from 26 - 29 June at the ministerial meeting for fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, food and forestry in Trondheim.
Norway holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2012 and the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food, Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, says in the run-up to the ministerial meeting:
"Food safety and increased food production are more and more in focus internationally. The Rio Declaration states clearly that production should done in a environmentally friendly and socially sustainable way. But we cannot solve all global challenge in this area unless the individual countries take greater responsibility for their own food production", states Slagsvold Vedum.
Deputy Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO, Ann Tutwiler, will also attend the meeting to discuss the final declaration from the recent RIO+20 conference with the Nordic ministers.
At the RIO+20 conference the Nordic Council of Ministers worked with the FAO to show the potential of the New Nordic Food concept for local produce and seasonal cooking to promote poor rural economies in other parts of the world.
Another priority on the agenda will be the potential of Green Care.
This means that a farm co-operates with a local authority or other public body in social and health services by becoming involved with a number of groups, from children with learning difficulties or asylum seekers to drug addicts or rehabilitation for the elderly.
Norway, in particular, has had good experience in this field and the ministers are keen to study the research and practical experiences from the other Nordic countries in this area.
The ministerial meeting will take place 28 - 29 June - more information on the programme can be found here.
See also the news from the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Michael Funch
Email
mifu@norden.org
Antal Astraea Astraea.Antal@lmd.dep.no