BRICS adopts New Delhi declaration with four new agriculture initiatives
BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi joint declaration by consensus, announcing four agriculture initiatives including the BRICS AGRIN network and a Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems.
BRICS nations have adopted the New Delhi joint declaration by consensus, setting out four new agriculture initiatives covering input networks, seed rights, agroecology and digital farming.
At the centre of the outcomes is the establishment of BRICS AGRIN — the Agro-Inputs, Genetic Resources, and Information Network. The declaration describes the network as collaborative, non-binding and farmer-centric, drawing on relevant national, regional and international practices.
Leaders also welcomed the launch of a Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems. The forum is intended to address shared challenges, promote effective policies and encourage the documentation and exchange of traditional knowledge related to agriculture and seed systems.
The declaration further welcomed two new cooperation networks. One is a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology and Regenerative Agriculture for Climate Resilience and Productivity. The other is a BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture, which includes agroforestry, fisheries and aquaculture. The leaders encouraged further cooperation under the BRICS Dialogue on Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The outcomes follow the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting held in Indore, which the declaration cited.
On trade, the grouping reaffirmed its commitment to advancing agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organization in line with existing ministerial mandates and the WTO Agreement on Agriculture. It said the aim was progress on long-standing mandated issues and a fair, balanced and development-oriented agricultural trading system, while noting that evolving policy and regulatory developments increasingly affect agricultural production and trade, food security and the livelihoods of smallholders and family farmers.
The declaration also welcomed ongoing efforts to promote sustainability, inclusivity and equitable market access in the global sustainable vegetable oils sector.