June 12, 2019

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the International Grains Council (IGC) in the United Kingdom and on the occasion of the 49th Session of the International Grains Council and the 28th International Grains Conference, H.E. Mr Koji Tsuruoka, Ambassador of Japan to the UK & Mr. Shuichi Akamatsu, IGC Chairman welcomed IGC Council delegates and conference participants to a reception at the Embassy of Japan on Tuesday 11 June 2019.

H.E. Mr Koji Tsuruoka, Ambassador of Japan welcomed all guests and congratulated IGC members on 70 years of international cooperation in grains trade and thanked the UK government for hosting the intergovernmental organisation.

Mr. Robert Goodwill, Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK said: “The International Grains Conference is a fantastic opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with key players from across the global grains and oilseeds supply chain. The total value of crops output in the UK last year was estimated to be more than £9 million – a rise of 1.7% on the previous year. We must continue to capitalise on the opportunities for the sector, including boosting international trade and harnessing new technologies.”

Dr. Robert Johansson, Chief Economist, United States Department of Agriculture said:
“I am honored to help commemorate 70 years of international grains trade cooperation through the International Grains Council and its predecessors and to look towards its future. Given the current uncertainty in grains and oilseeds markets and the many crop production and food security challenges we face going forward, we can be sure that the IGC’s role in facilitating trade for both producers and consumers will only increase in importance.”

Mr. Arnaud Petit, IGC Executive Director said “In the last 70 years the IGC has extended its coverage to monitor trade in 16 commodities including food staples. Currently IGC provides daily cost and freight (C&F) prices for more than 200 routes, reflecting total costs of global trade in grains and oilseeds. All this information enhances transparency in international markets and supports policy decision-making processes. Through the IGC grains conference, the organisation has also developed a platform of regular dialogue between the public and private sectors.”
Mr. Shuichi Akamatsu, IGC Chairman proposed a toast to the future of the organisation.

Delegates enjoyed a variety of high quality Japanese drinks and food such as Japanese traditional sake, awamori and miso as well as Japanese wagyu beef and fruits, including products produced in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
For more information see https://www.igc.int/en/conference/confvenue.aspx

The IGC is an intergovernmental organisation for cooperation in grain matters, based in London since 1949. It administers the only international treaty for grains (Grains Trade Convention) which applies to trade in grains, oilseeds and rice. It seeks to further international cooperation in grains trade to; promote expansion of international trade in grains and to secure the freest possible flow of trade; to contribute to grain market predictability and to enhance world food security. It comprises 56 member governments.

Website: http://www.igc.org.uk

Published: June 12, 2019