ALGIERS, Algeria (Reuters) — European and North African countries have called for greater co-ordination to head off future food crises across the Mediterranean region.
North African countries, which must allocate huge budgets to pay for food imports, face the risk of social unrest should world prices rise or they become unable to meet demand from growing populations.
France has for years been the main grain supplier to Algeria and Morocco, especially wheat.
“There is a need for a partnership between Europe and the Mediterranean. Agricultural policies should be part of co-operation with Europe,” French agriculture minister Stephaney Le Foll said at a meeting in Algiers for agriculture ministers from the countries that belong to CIHEAM.
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Member states include France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Turkey, Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia.
The meeting followed a conference of Euro-Med countries in Algiers last November for talks over investment in the agriculture sector.
“Some countries need help as their food security is threatened,” Algerian agriculture minister Abdel Ahab Nouri said.
The ministers recommended the development of a regional information network, launched this January to promote co-operation and share experience on agricultural markets.
