“Agriculture ministers from BRICS countries met [in Pretoria, South Africa,] on Tuesday to address the negative effects of climate change on world food security,” Xinhua reports. “The gathering, the 3rd of its kind, will culminate in the signing of a joint declaration which will demonstrate BRICS’ determination to meet the challenges confronting food security,” the news service adds, noting, “BRICS is an acronym for world’s major emerging markets, namely, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.” South African Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said at the conference, “It is my expectation that we will emerge from this meeting with a shared sense that it was instructive, successful and well worth the investment and effort we have made to be here,” according to Xinhua. “She urged BRICS countries to urgently and significantly accelerate agricultural and food production, so that people on the continent can enjoy sustainable access to safe, nutritious and affordable food,” the news service notes (10/29).