Uruguay has “great opportunity” to become a responsible food producer – Environmental Minister

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Uruguay has “a great opportunity” to excel “as a responsible food producer” incorporating environmental aspects into national production systems, said on Tuesday Environment Minister Adrián Peña.

The Environment Minister’s statements were made during the seminar “Uruguay, A different country? The challenges of sustainability,” organized by the National Institute of Agricultural Research, with the participation of the Ministers of Economy and Finance Azucena Arbeleche and of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Fernando Mattos.

According to Peña, “a change of paradigm” is required, with a long-term strategy to enable the transformation of the productive country “into an environmentally responsible one,” and to this end scientific and technical studies must be conducted that demonstrate how Uruguay produces.

As pointed out during the event held at Expo Prado, the main agroindustrial and livestock trade show in the South American country, 90% of Uruguayan meat is produced on natural pastures, which has a lower environmental impact.

Regarding the climate crisis situation, Peña emphasized that Uruguay “is greatly affected” since many countries that today point the finger at the country due to these issues “were not responsible in their time.”

For her part, Arbeleche said that the country is “at a turning point” of economic recovery and therefore it must seize the opportunities.

“What consumers are asking for in food, textiles, are elements that markets are demanding as well as investors. The whole world today demands additional elements to traditional products that are related to environmental, social and governance issues,” the Minister said.

She also emphasized that the environmental approach “is much more” than mere government financing, but rather “a seal of quality” that the world is demanding.

Therefore, Arbeleche said that a bond issue is being designed whose interest rate “is linked to an internationally recognized indicator,” implying that in order to benefit, certain environmental parameters must be met.

“We must be aware that this long-term environmental commitment involves costs, financing is needed to support undertakings that protect the environment and just as the world demands this approach, we need to ensure that spending in this area also reflects a different approach,” she said.

Mattos said that Uruguay can show that it is different in terms of its production, as it is the only MERCOSUR country “that does not increase its productive border to the detriment of natural resources” and it is the only one that has increased its natural forest.

“This collective awareness that has been growing is very important for us to position ourselves differently in the world, with a demand that requires healthy, safe and sustainable products. Today’s consumers have much more income, concerns and information,” he said.