Agricultural and food trade continue to be top priorities for BRICS nations, according to Deputy Head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia, Andrey Tsyganov, who spoke at a session of the 9th BRICS International Competition Conference.
Tsyganov highlighted that the 2025 BRICS Summit Leaders’ Declaration reaffirmed member states’ commitment to deepening cooperation in the agro-industrial sector. The declaration also includes pledges to ensure the uninterrupted supply of food, fertilizers, and other critical goods.
Speaking at the session, Tsyganov shared Russia’s experience in antitrust regulation within the agricultural and trade sectors. He noted that FAS maintains ongoing price monitoring on essential food products to inform potential stabilization measures. The agency also promotes responsible pricing practices, where companies voluntarily commit to capping their prices.
FAS also closely analyzes economic concentration in food-related markets, examining not only horizontal competition between market players but also vertical linkages in global production and supply chains.
Tsyganov further noted that BRICS food market competition issues are addressed through a BRICS Working Group for the Research of Competition Issues in Food Markets, supported by the International BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre
In collaboration with competition authorities from BRICS partners — including countries from the CIS, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region — the group has prepared a report on antitrust regulation across value chains in the agro-food sector. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of current economic challenges, identifies bottlenecks in global food supply chains, and evaluates the effectiveness of antitrust tools used in BRICS countries.
Tsyganov emphasized the significance of this work, stating that the report introduces a new regulatory methodology for the agro-industrial sector that reflects contemporary global challenges.
He concluded by noting that, following a proposal from South Africa and with support from BRICS competition authorities, UNCTAD has designated the development of competition in global food value chains as one of its priority areas for 2026.
Source: FAS
