Mexico to achieve food security in less than 15 years

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The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) Baltazar Hinojosa Ochoa , estimated that Mexico would achieve its food security goal in less than 15 years , following recommendations of agencies dictating that countries have to produce 70 percent of the food they consume .

In a meeting with the academic and student community of the Autonomous University of Chapingo , the Minister said that the equation on how to feed the world by using domestic land and water resources could be facilitated through the implementation and development of new technologies.

Some of the measures that have already been implemented during Mexico’s current administration are 268 projects for 56 agricultural chains in corn, chile, nopal, sugarcane, sorghum and agave , among others, according to a press release.

Hinojosa Ochoa said that, amidst major production and environmental challenges, the inclusion of new generations of young professionals and producers is key, as well as investment in the country's research and education centers in the agrifood sector , such as the Postgraduate College and the aforementioned institution.

He stressed that the growth and dynamism of the national agricultural and fishing sector was a gradual process that would yield positive results in production and exports, with the generation of 284.6 million tons of food during 2017 , which was 30.6 million tons higher than at the start of the six-year term .

There was also a six billion dollar surplus in the country’s agrifood trade balance, which means that Mexico ended up exporting 20 percent more than was imported in the food sector .

He acknowledged that the food industry in the country encompassed two sectors: Commerce and self-consumption . The government of Mexico has implemented both differential and regional policies to optimize the use of resources in programs for small and medium producers.

This is done by moving from subsidies to productivity incentives and pushing forward credit schemes of the Development Bank at preferential rates, he added.