The BRICS Working Group on Agriculture held its first meeting via videoconference on 16–17 April. The meeting was chaired by Maxim Markovich, director of the Department of International Cooperation and the Export Development of Agro-Industrial Products of the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

During the first day of the meeting, the Russian side presented the priorities of its BRICS Chairship in the agricultural sector: ensuring food security, developing mutual trade, and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. The organization’s existing initiatives were presented jointly with the Indian and Chinese sides during the meeting of the Working Group.

Speaking about the implementation of the action plan for BRICS cooperation in agriculture for 2021–2024, Markovich noted: “Russia is interested in further strengthening cooperation with BRICS countries. We hope that the high level of trust between our countries will decisively contribute to the development of relations in the agricultural sector. Russia is ready to make every effort for this.”

An initiative to create a grain trading platform was presented during the meeting, and an announcement was made about the Conference on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture to be held in Moscow in late June 2024.

During the second day of the meeting, representatives of the BRICS Working Group delegations discussed the draft Joint Declaration of the 14th Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Agriculture.

BRICS partners welcomed the initiatives and planned events of Russia’s Chairship and noted the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.