State Secretary Gerd Müller: India a key partner for global food security
During his visit to India from 29 August to 3 September 2010, Dr. Gerd Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and the Indian State Secretary Basu signed a German-Indian agreement in New Delhi on closer cooperation between both countries in the food and agricultural sectors.
Both states want to intensify their cooperation, in particular in the fields of agricultural research, agricultural engineering, plant and animal breeding and in the dairy sector. In addition, the Indian side is also striving for enhanced cooperation with the German food industry and the seed sector. "Political relations with India could not be better," said the Parliamentary State Secretary following the signing of the bilateral agreement. "We believe that our cooperation not only holds huge economic potential for both sides, but also provides an opportunity to focus more strongly on issues relating to world food security together with India, one of the world's most important agricultural producers.”
The trip to India marked the second meeting of the bilateral Working Group on Agriculture, which was established in November 2008 and which addresses both agricultural policy issues and options for expanding the bilateral cooperation with German agricultural enterprises and agricultural research. Talks were held with staff from the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries of the central government in New Delhi on further prospects and opportunities for reinforced cooperation in the fields of agricultural engineering, plant and animal breeding and milk production between Germany and India.
State Secretary Müller was also briefed about activities of representatives from German scientific and research organisations in India and met renowned Indian and international experts at a panel of agricultural policy experts on the subject of food security. Particular mention should be made of the meeting with Prof. Monkombu Swaminathan who, as "Father of the Green Revolution in India", has played a pivotal role in the shaping of Indian agricultural and development policies for decades.
On the occasion of an event held by the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) as part of the project "German cuisine in India", the State Secretary, speaking to Indian journalists, explained the diversity and merits of German cuisine and German wines. Simon Tress, one of Germany’s top chefs, assisted the State Secretary in doing so by presenting a selection of Swabian specialities.
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