UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Dame Angela Eagle, welcomed Germany’s Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity, Alois Rainer, to London for a dialogue focusing on agricultural resilience, food security, and trade.
Following the Prime Minister’s visit to Berlin on 8 October and ratification of the Treaty of Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Federal Republic of Germany (Kensington Treaty), the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Treaty as the foundation for a stronger and deeper partnership. They underlined their shared ambition to deepen bilateral cooperation on agriculture, food security, and trade between the United Kingdom and Germany.
Geopolitical instability and climate change are impacting global supply chains. The United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany are close allies and important trading partners. An open exchange is an important foundation for strengthening domestic and global food security. During their meeting in London on 29 October 2026, both governments deepened this exchange, in particular on questions related to agriculture and food.
Both governments recognise that a resilient, innovative and competitive agriculture and forestry sector is the foundation for global food security, economic sustainability, and sustainable rural areas.
The agricultural and food industry is an important part of the close economic relations between the United Kingdom and Germany. The exchange of agricultural products and food connects markets and opens up opportunities for businesses on both sides. The decline in trade volumes in recent years highlights the importance of further unlocking the potential of these trade relations.
Moreover, agriculture and forestry in both countries are facing profound changes, as seen in the 2026 droughts which affected agriculture and forestry in both the United Kingdom and Germany.
Droughts and other consequences of climate change cannot be managed by individual countries alone. Dialogue and cross-border cooperation are crucial for the future of agriculture.
For these reasons, the United Kingdom and Germany believe that even stronger cooperation is necessary. Both governments are committed to:
- working together within their areas of responsibility to reduce trade barriers in the agriculture and food sector and to develop new forms of cooperation;
- promoting research, innovation, and knowledge sharing to ensure strong animal and plant health alongside sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture and forestry;
- supporting open and functioning global agricultural and food markets and strengthening biosecurity as well as sustainable, climate-friendly, and resilient supply chains to contribute to global food security and create economic opportunities.
The UK and Germany are looking forward to the upcoming UK-EU Summit on 20 November 2026, with the expectation that an ambitious UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement will be finalised, helping to simplify trade, reduce administrative burdens, and provide long-term certainty for producers and retailers on both sides.
Source: www.gov.uk
