Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has concluded a mission to Berlin, Germany.

He participated in the 9th Berlin Agriculture Ministers' conference on January 21 and the G20 Agriculture Ministers' meeting on January 22, where the theme of both events was 'Agriculture and Water'.

At the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting, MacAulay signed a joint declaration with his counterparts to strengthen food security and access to water by fostering sustainability and advancing innovation.

"Canada fully supports the strong focus of G20 agriculture ministers on sustainable water use, antimicrobial resistance and research and innovation," said MacAulay. "The Government of Canada will continue to advocate for open, science-based trade rules and innovation to increase agricultural productivity to help Canadian farmers conserve water, boost their incomes, grow the economy and meet the challenge of feeding the world sustainably.”

While in Berlin, MacAulay announced a contribution of $1 million to support international bodies that develop the standards for food safety and plant and animal health.

MacAulay also met with with other key partners including ministers of agriculture from China, the European Union, Germany, the United Kingdom and Austria.

Canadian combined agriculture and seafood bilateral trade with G20 partners totalled $108.9 billion in 2015.