On 2 July in Paris, Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze took part in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Green Growth and Sustainable Development Forum, which discussed how to combine the sustainable development of the agriculture and forestry sectors with economic growth.

Minister for Agriculture Armands Krauze points out: “In the forestry sector we are now obtaining timber from forests that were planted 100 years ago, 40 years before the OECD was founded, and today we are planting forests that we will use for timber in 2100. This time dimension is very important and must be taken into account in policy planning, because the resources we are deliberating on now will be used by the next generation.

Discussions with farmers and forest owners have shown that the main driver of business activity is economic growth – how entrepreneurs can earn money in the short and the long term. Only under conditions of stable profit is it possible to improve operations and work towards sustainability and environmental goals. Moreover, if we introduce new instruments to promote green growth, such as carbon credits, the interests of small and medium-sized farmers and forest owners must be taken into account – they do not have the means, as large companies do, to employ specialists to administer such instruments.”

At the OECD Green Growth and Sustainable Development Forum, sector representatives analyse each year some previously undiscussed issue related to sustainability and green growth. The event brings together stakeholders and experts from OECD committees, ministries, agencies, academia, businesses, civil society and international organisations.