As part of South Africa's G20 presidency, the upcoming ministerial meetings will focus on African priorities such as food security, sustainable development, and resilience to disasters, aiming to promote inclusive investment, climate resilience, and technological innovation in agriculture.

These discussions are designed to enhance cooperation among G20 countries on critical issues like data-driven food security, market access, and early-warning systems, with a particular emphasis on supporting vulnerable households and incorporating African perspectives into global resilience strategies.

A key goal of the meetings is to produce a ministerial communiqué that will guide G20 leaders and influence multilateral trade reforms, emphasizing sustainable food systems and amplifying African voices in global diplomacy.

The G20 Agriculture Group, established in 2011 to address food price volatility, has evolved into an important forum for supporting agricultural initiatives among member nations.

The Agriculture Working Group serves as a vital platform for G20 countries to collaborate on agricultural issues and set targets aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Building on earlier engagements in Durban and Cape Town in 2025, the agenda includes discussions on climate-smart innovation, soil health, and trade facilitation, with outcomes expected to influence broader policy at the November 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.

Media coverage and side events, such as roundtables on climate resilience and trade, are encouraged to promote South Africa’s role and facilitate stakeholder engagement in these discussions.

The G20 Agriculture Working Group and Food Security Task Force Ministerial Meetings will be chaired by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa, scheduled for September 18-19 at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West, Cape Town.

South Africa’s President of the G20, Steenhuisen, and Deputy Minister Capa, will lead the meetings focusing on global agricultural issues, including leveraging data for food security, aligning sanitary and phytosanitary systems, and fostering inclusive agricultural investment.

Discussions will highlight opportunities such as market access for South African products and evaluating trade impacts, including US tariffs, to support sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.