Bali, 28 September 2022: Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, President of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), led a delegation from ERIA to the G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held at the Intercontinental Bali Resort in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia. This Ministerial Meeting was attended by Agriculture Ministers from G20 countries and seven invited countries as well as representatives from eight international organizations including FAO, World Bank, OECD, and ERIA.

The meeting was opened by Prof Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Indonesia’s Minister of Agriculture, who emphasized that G20 Member Countries need to work together to address the challenges to food security and nutrition, climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and geopolitical tension.

During the session on ‘Innovative Agri-preneurship through Digital Agriculture to Improve Farmers’ Livelihood in Rural Areas’, Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura shared ERIA’s efforts to support an inclusive digital future. He introduced ERIA’s Comprehensive Asia Development Plan or ‘CADP 3.0’ that highlights the importance of digital agriculture. Also, he explained ERIA’s contribution to the development of the T20 policy brief focusing on digital agriculture and the G20 Agriculture Working Group on the same Topic.

Furthermore, he discussed the application of digital technologies could be tangible solutions to increase productivity and reduce the environmental load simultaneously. Catalyzing and leveraging the efforts to coordinate policies for addressing challenges to sustainable agriculture by adopting the nexus approach will be essential actions for G20 Member Countries. He concluded his remarks with the announcement that ERIA will establish a new Centre for Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy that will make a greater contribution to development for all by offering pragmatic solutions to achieve a digitalized economy and society.

During the break, Prof Nishimura exchanged views of food security and other important issues in the food and agriculture sector with delegates from G20 countries and other international organizations including the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu.   

In the closing session, the Chair emphasised that the digital technology is a tangible solution to developing agriculture and food systems and that the commitment and collaboration among G20 Member Countries as well as support from the international organizations are the keys to the implementation of digitalization in agriculture.

ERIA will continuously address the challenges for building and enhancing sustainable and resilient agriculture and food system through its research and other activities.