International Relations in Agriculture

1. International Relations in Agriculture Presentation by the Department of Agriculture to the Portfolio Committee 22nd February, 2005

2. Context • South Africa’s Foreign Policy and Strategic Medium Term and Annual Cabinet /International Relations Peace and Security [IRPS] Cluster priorities; • Cabinet priorities for 2004 – 2005/06 include:--Consolidation of the African Agenda;-South South Cooperation;-Reform of the United Nations System;-Reform of the World Trading System-Peace and Security;

3. Developing an Agricultural Strategy • Post 1994 elections and peace agreement dividends in Africa put an increased demand on the technical capacity, governance and commercial experience of South African Agriculture; • Reform of the trading environment processes with a new emphasis on free and fair trade requiring strategic positioning of exports strategy; • Need to maximize training opportunities of new scientists and adopt new concepts;

4. Developing an Agricultural Strategy • Adhoc, reactive approach within the department to increased international activities – required a more streamlined approach and comprehensive – department wide strategy that is aligned with national priorities; • Revamped International Relations Directorate; • Departmental Workshop held – to determine the focus of South Africa’s international engagement and priorities on Agriculture.

5. Environmental Scan - Threats • Multilateralism under threat – security agenda competing with development agenda; • Increased movement of people, diseases, pests; • Regionalisation - increased need to cooperate on trade, ODA, technical assistance; • Proliferation of conventions and international agreements; • Failure to implement development round in WTO – threats of increased bilateral negotiation

6. Environmental Scan - Opportunities • Movement of goods and services and Regionalisation – increased market opportunities • Greater linkages between Sustainable Development initiatives through 10 year Jhb Plan of Action [WSSD] • Proactive African conceived and led agenda: NEPAD an the Agricultural Sector Plan - CAADP • Increased South – South solidarity within multilateral rules based trading system, IBSA, G20

7. Agricultural International Strategy AIM: • To represent South Africa’s agriculture interests through :- -the development and consolidation of bilateral relations [with special focus on Africa and South South Cooperation];-engagement in multilateral institutions;-sourcing international assistance to contribute to delivery of the South African Agricultural priority programmes.

8. Strategic Alignment Framework SA Constitution Training National Foreign Policy and Cabinet IRPS Priorities Trade NEPAD Regions Technology PRIORITIES Department of Agriculture – Approved Key Result Areas Politics People Agricultural Sector Strategy CAADP

9. Pillars • Trade - increased international trade • Technology – (and Research collaboration) • Training ( human resource development, mentorship and technical assistance) • Politics (establishment and consolidation of bilateral and multilateral relations at a high political level, and implementation of high level political initiatives) • People to People interaction (multi-stakeholder dialogue, farmer to farmer exchanges, academic collaborations, student exchanges etc).

10. Values and Principles • Development focus; • Underpinned by Sector Approach; • Major focus on Africa; • Underlying principle - Regional prosperity in South Africa’s interests; • Long term view; • Informed by broader Government - national and foreign policy; • Inclusive of civil society.

11. Summary of Strategic action plan • Distinct but mutually reinforcing - bilateral and multilateral approach; • Focused actions that support the pillars – trade; technology; training, • Strategic engagement in support of the pillars on politics and people;

12. SA Multilateral Engagement • Proponent of Multilateralism; • Greater participation in standards setting bodies; • Greater coherence in implementation of conventions; • Implementation of WSSD commitments; • Fairer trade regimes, increased market access; • Greater participation of developing countries; • Strengthened positioning of Africa in multilateral processes and putting NEPAD on the agenda;

13. SA Bilateral Engagement • Work in clustered Regions which are not necessarily geographically defined; • Africa – a strategic priority; • North America, Europe and Australia; • South South focus emphasis on South America and Asia – more recently this is being disaggregated into engagement with [India Brazil, SA [IBSA]; targeted engagement with China; and supportive of the G20 • Based on General Agreements supported by multi-year action plans and SPS Agreements;

14. Africa • Consolidation of bilateral relations – through African Footprint and post conflict reconstruction • Working to support the African Union; • Implementation of NEPAD- CAADP; • Prioritization of the SADC bilateral support to the restructuring of SADC through implementation of the SADC 3E; • Implementation of the Agricultural Technical Exchange Programme; • Increased representation at all levels; • Intra-African trade facilitation – harmonization

15. AADP – Areas of focus • Development of SPS related legislation [GMO Act]; • Development and support to National Regulatory Systems Infrastructure [Harmonization strategy adopted in SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Programme]; • Integrated Food Security Strategies [IFSNP] • -Disease Combating and Management [SADC Strategy to combat FMD and Harmonization of the SADC Animal Identification System; Locust control in Mali]

16. AADP – Areas of focus • Micro-financing infrastructure for agriculture [Establishing the Land Bank Model in Mozambique] • International trade negotiations – [ACP Group work in Brussels; Lobby within the WTO – Cotton Initiative; SACU - USA FTA]

17. Europe, Americas and Australia • Major focus on trade – well running machinery EU and North America - Full implementation of SA EU TDCA, SACU –US negs, AGOA; • Further explore technology, technical assistance, ito sectoral priorities; • EU expansion [CAP]– development of a strategy for new strong agricultural entrants; • Cooperatives development - Italy • Russia ITEC action plans • Australia - Landcare and sustainable resource management.

18. South South Cooperation • Focus on two regions Latin America and Asia; • Similar development challenges; • Similar socio-economic conditions; • Interests in elements of 3TP2 more pronounced; • South alliances – IBSA, • South-South Alliance, G77 & China group, G20 plus; • Move towards G8 of South;

19. Challenges • Financing the AADP; • Internal Human Resources Capacity to deal with bilateral and multilateral engagements; • Alignment of economic interests across all government interventions; • Availability of credible information for planning; • The need to focus – balanced with increased demand for South African leadership;

20. THANK YOU