5 March 2014: The first meeting of the G8 Food Security Working Group (FSWG) focused on the theme of soil degradation and actions the G8 could take to preserve soil fertility for future generations. Outcomes included the broad endorsement of a proposal by the Russian G8 Presidency to make healthy soils the group’s focus of work for 2014.

In an opening address, the Russian Federation’s Minister of Agriculture, Nikolai Fyodorov, noted that the “joint efforts of the international community will help to reduce the amount of agricultural lands loss” and that the goal of zero net land degradation is worth pursuing. The meeting, however, did not reach a decision to set such a goal after some members expressed reservations over methodology, feasibility and accountability.

The Working Group did agree to align its activities and deliverables with the work of the New Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition, and to support ongoing work on definitions and indicators within the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Intersessional Working Group (IWG). In addition, a draft report of the meeting will be presented to the G8 Sherpas Meeting.

The meeting, which took place in Moscow, Russia from 27-28 February 2014, brought together G8 representatives with officials from academia, civil society, and a number of international organizations, including the UNCCD, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), World Bank, and Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR). [Russian G8 Presidency Press Release] [UNCCD Press Release]