08:49Indian food security expert and agribusiness leader Vijay Sardana welcomed the 'diversification and expansion' of the BRICS bloc as a 'counterbalance' to Western-aligned groups such as the G7, during an exclusive interview ahead of the 16th BRICS Summit.
Sardana discussed the impact of this 'very positive development' for Global South countries on food and energy security, economic development and political and technological advancement.
He explained that food security is a 'big challenge in the world', noting that "productivity is in question, and many production areas are either facing drought or facing flooding." He stated that with 30 percent of agricultural land and 45 percent of the global population within BRICS members, 'these countries will have a major role in global food security'.
"India, Brazil, and South Africa are all major agricultural economies and one of the biggest markets; even Russia is a big market, and China is a big market and also produces. So agriculture and food security without BRICS in the world is very, very difficult," he said.
Sardana also added that BRICS offers countries an opportunity to work together to close the gap with Western nations in economic and technological development.
“We have low-cost economies. We also help and understand each other's limitations. So there are chances that more and more countries are joining BRICS because they will feel comfortable operating, familiar faces with familiar challenges, and also because we understand each other's limitations. The technological products or other products that are developed in BRICS nations are ideally suitable," he explained.
"We have seen the technology in China, Russia, India, and South Africa. We are also growing, but we have to spend more on innovations. We have to spend more on R&D, and we have to reduce our trade barriers, which means internal trade reforms or economic reforms so that we can grow faster than the G7," he added.
Sardana also said that Western countries fail to engage with Global South nations on equal terms, claimed that they consider them ‘inferior’.
“We do not want that the world should be dominated by one force or the other. So we have political affiliations. We understand each other's political constraints, and we also understand each other's economic limitations, and that is where we can complement each other, and that is precisely one reason that people want to join BRICS," Sardana declared.
Sardana also criticised the call by Western nations to isolate Russia due to the war in Ukraine and added that sanctions have been ineffective, with the burden being carried by less affluent countries and energy importers.
"America can always take care of Europe by exporting crude to them. But what about the rest of the world? By increasing crude prices, the economy will face serious bottlenecks or suffering in developing economies," he explained, noting that 'it is not feasible to isolate Moscow in today's interdependent world', citing a lack of alternatives for 'energy or defence supplies'.
"In both cases, there is huge politics. If we remove Moscow, prices will go up. America will enjoy, but the rest of the world will suffer,” he continued.
The 16th BRICS summit is scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan. Leaders from more than 24 countries are expected to attend the event, including Russia’s closest neighbours, as well as its partners in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
'Diversification, expansion' in Global South strengthens BRICS, counters G7 dominance - Indian food security expert
Indian food security expert and agribusiness leader Vijay Sardana welcomed the 'diversification and expansion' of the BRICS bloc as a 'counterbalance' to Western-aligned groups such as the G7, during an exclusive interview ahead of the 16th BRICS Summit.
Sardana discussed the impact of this 'very positive development' for Global South countries on food and energy security, economic development and political and technological advancement.
He explained that food security is a 'big challenge in the world', noting that "productivity is in question, and many production areas are either facing drought or facing flooding." He stated that with 30 percent of agricultural land and 45 percent of the global population within BRICS members, 'these countries will have a major role in global food security'.
"India, Brazil, and South Africa are all major agricultural economies and one of the biggest markets; even Russia is a big market, and China is a big market and also produces. So agriculture and food security without BRICS in the world is very, very difficult," he said.
Sardana also added that BRICS offers countries an opportunity to work together to close the gap with Western nations in economic and technological development.
“We have low-cost economies. We also help and understand each other's limitations. So there are chances that more and more countries are joining BRICS because they will feel comfortable operating, familiar faces with familiar challenges, and also because we understand each other's limitations. The technological products or other products that are developed in BRICS nations are ideally suitable," he explained.
"We have seen the technology in China, Russia, India, and South Africa. We are also growing, but we have to spend more on innovations. We have to spend more on R&D, and we have to reduce our trade barriers, which means internal trade reforms or economic reforms so that we can grow faster than the G7," he added.
Sardana also said that Western countries fail to engage with Global South nations on equal terms, claimed that they consider them ‘inferior’.
“We do not want that the world should be dominated by one force or the other. So we have political affiliations. We understand each other's political constraints, and we also understand each other's economic limitations, and that is where we can complement each other, and that is precisely one reason that people want to join BRICS," Sardana declared.
Sardana also criticised the call by Western nations to isolate Russia due to the war in Ukraine and added that sanctions have been ineffective, with the burden being carried by less affluent countries and energy importers.
"America can always take care of Europe by exporting crude to them. But what about the rest of the world? By increasing crude prices, the economy will face serious bottlenecks or suffering in developing economies," he explained, noting that 'it is not feasible to isolate Moscow in today's interdependent world', citing a lack of alternatives for 'energy or defence supplies'.
"In both cases, there is huge politics. If we remove Moscow, prices will go up. America will enjoy, but the rest of the world will suffer,” he continued.
The 16th BRICS summit is scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan. Leaders from more than 24 countries are expected to attend the event, including Russia’s closest neighbours, as well as its partners in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Indian food security expert and agribusiness leader Vijay Sardana welcomed the 'diversification and expansion' of the BRICS bloc as a 'counterbalance' to Western-aligned groups such as the G7, during an exclusive interview ahead of the 16th BRICS Summit.
Sardana discussed the impact of this 'very positive development' for Global South countries on food and energy security, economic development and political and technological advancement.
He explained that food security is a 'big challenge in the world', noting that "productivity is in question, and many production areas are either facing drought or facing flooding." He stated that with 30 percent of agricultural land and 45 percent of the global population within BRICS members, 'these countries will have a major role in global food security'.
"India, Brazil, and South Africa are all major agricultural economies and one of the biggest markets; even Russia is a big market, and China is a big market and also produces. So agriculture and food security without BRICS in the world is very, very difficult," he said.
Sardana also added that BRICS offers countries an opportunity to work together to close the gap with Western nations in economic and technological development.
“We have low-cost economies. We also help and understand each other's limitations. So there are chances that more and more countries are joining BRICS because they will feel comfortable operating, familiar faces with familiar challenges, and also because we understand each other's limitations. The technological products or other products that are developed in BRICS nations are ideally suitable," he explained.
"We have seen the technology in China, Russia, India, and South Africa. We are also growing, but we have to spend more on innovations. We have to spend more on R&D, and we have to reduce our trade barriers, which means internal trade reforms or economic reforms so that we can grow faster than the G7," he added.
Sardana also said that Western countries fail to engage with Global South nations on equal terms, claimed that they consider them ‘inferior’.
“We do not want that the world should be dominated by one force or the other. So we have political affiliations. We understand each other's political constraints, and we also understand each other's economic limitations, and that is where we can complement each other, and that is precisely one reason that people want to join BRICS," Sardana declared.
Sardana also criticised the call by Western nations to isolate Russia due to the war in Ukraine and added that sanctions have been ineffective, with the burden being carried by less affluent countries and energy importers.
"America can always take care of Europe by exporting crude to them. But what about the rest of the world? By increasing crude prices, the economy will face serious bottlenecks or suffering in developing economies," he explained, noting that 'it is not feasible to isolate Moscow in today's interdependent world', citing a lack of alternatives for 'energy or defence supplies'.
"In both cases, there is huge politics. If we remove Moscow, prices will go up. America will enjoy, but the rest of the world will suffer,” he continued.
The 16th BRICS summit is scheduled for October 22-24 in Kazan. Leaders from more than 24 countries are expected to attend the event, including Russia’s closest neighbours, as well as its partners in the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States.