Russia’s food resources should be primarily based on home-grown products, the President said, opening the meeting. Global trends are such today that foodstuffs are every bit as strategically important as financial resources and energy security.
Mr Medvedev outlined several areas of work in order to achieve real change in the situation. First, the Government needs to start monitoring the food security situation in the country. Second, laws governing land relations need to be improved, especially as concerns rational use of land. Third, action must be taken to develop the foodstuffs processing industry.
The President noted that, although production of the basic foodstuffs has shown steady growth of late, consumption in Russia of basic products still falls short of the levels recommended by doctors. Rational consumption norms should be drafted, the President said, instructing the Government to have the relevant documents ready by April 1, 2010.
Mr Medvedev noted also that the Customs Union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will open new opportunities and also give rise to new risks for Russia’s agriculture sector. A number of recommendations and instructions were issued in this context.