Gerry Ritz - File Photo

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is in Turkey this week attending the G20 Ministerial Agricultural Meeting in Istanbul.

Members at the meeting will discuss how the G20 can support progress towards the achievement of sustainable food systems.

Ritz will also be holding bilateral meetings with key agriculture ministers to further advance Canadian agriculture interests with important trading partners.

"Agricultural trade and innovation are fundamental for economic growth and global food security. Our Government believes in the ongoing importance of cooperative efforts through the G20 to promote global growth and prosperity," said Ritz.

Canadian businesses will have preferential access to nearly half of all G20 members with the recently concluded Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the European Union and the now in force Canada - Korea free Trade Agreement.

Canadian agriculture and seafood exports in 2014 to G20 partners totalled $43.4 billion.