G/AG/GEN/187  
WT/CTE/GEN/24  
1 June 2021 
(21-4533) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Agriculture  
Committee on Trade and Environment  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
PRINCIPLES AND VALUES OF THE REGION REGARDING THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD WITHIN 
THE FRAMEWORK OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL 
(CAS) – FORTY -SECOND REGULAR MEETING  
COMMUNICATION FROM ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, CHILE, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY  
The following communication, received on 3 1 May 2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations  of Argentina, Bra zil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.  
 
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1  MINISTERS' DECLARATION  
The Ministers of Agriculture of Argentina, Bra zil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay,  members of the 
Southern  Agricultural Council (CAS), meeting virtually on 4 May 2021. 
 
Consider  that: 
 
1.  The countries in the region  are facing shared challenges within the framework of international 
negotiations regarding  sustainable development, and that, in view of this, it is extremely valuable 
to compile, in a declaration  by the CAS, the principles and values shared by the Ministe rs of 
Agriculture in the region . 
2.  Our main challenge is to ensure th e implementation of  these principles and values, which are 
widely recognized at the international  level. Therefore, the countries of the CAS call on  the 
international community to  finalize the global agreements and mechanisms  that will make it possible  
to put into practice these principles and practices, thus moving from a declaration  to implementation.  
We declare that we share the following positions:  
 
1.1  FOOD S ECURITY  
• In the current context o f the pandemic, the region is called on to play a central role in 
addressing the challenges faced international ly. Our countries are among the main global 
providers of healthy, nutritional and high-quality  food, in accordance with the  2030 Agenda 
for Susta inable Development, and particularly with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1 on 
ending poverty and Sustainable Development Goal 2 on zero hunger.  
• We recognize that climate change is a challenge for the whole of humanity . When adopting 
measures to reverse climate change, we must give top priority  to safeguarding food security 
and ending hunger.  
• Food production systems are particularly vulnerable to  the adverse effects of climate change . 
The challenges posed by climate change  make it imperative to focus efforts on adaptation, in 
order to ensure the resilience of system s and maintain the production necessary for food 
security.  
• We need to produce more and better food, while creating mechanisms to ensure physical, 
social and fina ncial access to this food.  G/AG/GEN/187 • WT/CTE/GEN/24  
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  • We underscore the contribution of sustainable agricultur e and livestock farming to food 
security, economic development and land tenure.  
1.2  SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT  
• We reaffirm our commitment to producing food in a sustainable manner,  while respecting the 
balance  among  the three pillars of sustainability, in order to contribute to poverty reduction, 
the progressive distribution of income, the efficient and responsible  use of natural resources , 
and the economic development of our countr ies. 
• Moreover, we recognize that there are key challenges at the environmental level, particularly 
regarding climate change adaptation, and at the social level , in terms of ensuring that the 
sector is inclusive.  
• We highlight the importance, in accordance with the 2030 Agenda, of moving forward with 
effective means of implementation  by, inter alia , providing adequate financing mechanisms, 
investments in new and innovative technology aimed at sustainably increasing productivity , 
and promoting tech nology transfer and technical training.  
1.3  SHARED BUT DIFFERENTIATED RESPONS IBILIT IES 
• All countries must cooperate to preserve the environment, while taking into account historical 
responsibilities, as well as national capacities in terms of level  of developm ent and 
socio-economic conditions.  
• Least developed countries are the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, due to 
physical, social and economic factors.  
• As recognized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , 
both in  the past and at present , most of  the world's greenhouse gases come from developed 
countries.  
• Countries that are primarily responsible, both historically and currently , for environmental 
degradation should provide adequate economic and technological tools that will en able 
developing countries to increase the sustainability of their production.  
1.4  FAIR TRANSITION AND RESPECT FOR LOCAL DIVERSITY  
• The transition towards sustainability in production systems must be carried out gradual ly, and 
in the format and within the timeframes decided by each country based on  its productive, 
economic and social situation . 
• It is essential to recognize and respect the local circumstances of the different regions of the 
world and their specific productiv e, social and environmental circumstances . 
• There is no one development model that can be applied to  all nations in the world, and it is 
therefore fundamental to have an inclusive vision of the sustainability of food systems , with 
solutions that are adapted  to local realities, based on sound scientific arguments.  
• We therefore agree on  the need to establish mechanisms that  will guarantee the 
implementation this transition without leaving anybody behind, and without affecting food 
production, and providing the  assurance that the quality of life of our producers, particularly 
the most vulnerable , will not be affected.  
1.5  PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES  
• Latin America and the Caribbean is the main regi on providing ecosystem services at the global 
level, with over half of the world's primary forest and biodiversity.  G/AG/GEN/187 • WT/CTE/GEN/24  
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  • We agree that the international community needs to have a frank and in -depth discussion to 
urgently put in place efficient systems t o quantif y and capitalize global positive externalities 
resulting from ecosystem services that are created in agricultural or agroforestry systems.  
1.6  GENDER AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES  
• Rural women play a central role in food security, particularly in family, rural and  indigenous 
production, and are particularly vulnerable to climate change in our sector.  
• The poverty rates for indigenous populations are on average double those for other 
Latin Americans.  
• We must agree on  effective  mechanisms that make it possible to clos e gender gaps, as they 
are key to reducing poverty and achieving sustainable food systems, in economic, social and 
environmental terms.  
1.7  INTERNATIONAL  COOPERATION  
• We underscore the value of international cooperation a s a tool for sharing experiences, 
transf erring knowledge and technology , and creating positive synergies for climate action and 
environmental sustainability.  
• South -South cooperation action must be strengthened and be adjusted to local needs.  
1.8  INTERNATIONAL TRADE  
• It is vital to achieve a fairer, t ransparent and predictable international trading system . 
Production - and trade -distorting subsidies, and  para-tariff barriers , have a negative impact on  
consumers and producers . We call on WTO Members to cap and reduce by at least half, 
by 2030,  the total current global agricultural trade - and production -distorting domestic 
support entitlements . The contributions by individual WTO Members to  achieving  these 
reductions must be proportional to their current entitlements and the po tential  repercussi ons 
on global markets, and take into account the needs of the different Members in terms of 
development, in order to accomplish  the objective at the global level by 2030.  
• Open trade plays a fundamental role in ensuring and strengthening global food securit y and 
compliance with the SDGs.  
• We therefore insist on the need to move forward decisively with the WTO agricultural reform 
process . 
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