Issues of unifying livestock and seed products circulation, priorities for joint research and development in the Eurasian Economic Union as well as new directions for developing international cooperation were discussed by participants of the Advisory Committee on Agriculture.
Article continues below
The meeting chaired by Artak Kamalyan, Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture of the Eurasian Economic Commission, was held on October 21.
"In order to ensure a well balanced development of the agricultural sector it is important to deepen cooperation between the EAEU countries in the main directions of the agreed agricultural policy as well as systematically work to eliminate any obstacles in mutual trade," the EEC Minister emphasized.
The meeting attendees have approved the draft recommendation of the Commission’s Board "On unifying approaches to classifying farm animals and their products (material) as pedigree stock". Implementing the recommendation will enable ensuring high quality of imported pedigree stock and unifying requirements for it and accompanying documents.
The EAEU countries are recommended to control the quality of pedigree stock imported to the Union States’ territory from third countries as well as ensure compliance with the conditions whereby breeding animals and their products are accompanied by documents containing information required for further use in selective breeding work.
The Advisory Committee on Agriculture has approved a draft list of measures aimed at unifying the Member States' legislation in the fields of variety tests and seed production of agricultural plants.
Implementing these measures will enable eliminating differences in national legislations that affect mutual trade in seeds and reducing administrative barriers in the internal market. The document is planned to be approved by the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.
The sides’ representatives have approved a draft list of joint R&D in the field of agriculture. The document has been formed for 2021-2025 and includes 27 projects in the field of crop production, animal husbandry, land reclamation, food industry and economy of the agricultural sector. Researches imply the development of breakthrough products and technologies based on advanced scientific and technological progress.
In order to improve the agricultural sector's competitiveness, the sides plan to create by joint efforts some adaptive and heavy productive varieties of agricultural crops, to develop a system of precision farming and soil fertility recovery, to elaborate biotechnologies in crop production and animal husbandry and to prepare a system for assessing ameliorative condition of lands using geoinformation technologies.
As far as the economy is concerned, the R&D addresses issues of improving the competitiveness of small businesses, developing the service sector and digital technologies in agriculture.
The participants of the Advisory Committee on Agriculture paid special attention to developing cooperation in creating efficient import-substituting technologies for deriving modified starches in the EAEU by approving the relevant draft recommendation of the EEC Board.
The document provides for implementing joint activities to develop environmentally friendly technologies for manufacturing modified starches for food and technical purposes as well as regulatory documents and specialized equipment for starch modification based on market surveys and patent search. As a result, it is expected to derive new food and industrial products with high added value.
The steps being taken in developing scientific and innovative cooperation will help improve the technological competitiveness of the agricultural sector and the efficiency of using the scientific and research potential of the Union countries.
Members of the Committee on Agriculture have approved draft Memoranda of Understanding between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Islamic Organization for Food Security, the International Sugar Organization and the International Grains Council. It is expected that organizations will exchange information, experience and knowledge, conduct joint research, consultations and round tables as well as prepare joint reports, analytical and other reviews.
Expanding the format of interaction with international organizations will enable adopting more deliberate decisions when elaborating measures for the agreed agricultural policy within the EAEU.​ ■